Hypnosis and suggested pseudomemory: The relevance of test context

Abstract

High and low hypnotisable subjects were shown a series of slides depicting a purse‐snatching. Subsequently, in either hypnotic or nonhypnotic (control) conditions it was suggested to subjects that they had seen a scarf on the offender. Subjects' reporting of this suggested pseudomemory was tested when they were with the first experimenter, twice when they were with an independent second experimenter, and when they were contacted away from the laboratory by an independent third experimenter. The findings indicated that pseudomemory reporting occurred similarly in the hypnotic and nonhypnotic conditions, but that it occurred for more high than low hypnotisable subjects. Pseudomemory reporting decreased when it was assessed away from the laboratory setting. These findings are discussed in terms of the cognitive and social factors that appear to influence suggested pseudomemory.