W.13.3a

Title: Does calling something hypnosis make it hypnosis? The comparison of effectiveness of different conventional and unconventional induction techniques.
Presenters: Zoltan Kekecs
Venue: Audytorium Maximum - Small Hall / Aula Mała
Time: 20- 30 minute presentation during 1 pararell sesion-  13.06.2024 8:30-10:00
Language: EN

Abstract:

Hypnosis is a powerful therapeutic tool which is used to facilitate psychotherapy and medical treatments. In our research we are assessing the characteristics of unconventional hypnosis inductions. In one theoretical framework these can be considered placebo hypnosis inductions. A validated placebo induction could help us pinpoint the effective components of hypnosis interventions and understand the mechanisms involved.

The presentation will discuss findings of two research studies, where participants were exposed to either a conventional or an unconventional (placebo) hypnosis induction described as either hypnosis or a non-hypnotic relaxation technique. Expectancy determined self-reported hypnosis depth, so inductions described as hypnosis evoked much deeper hypnosis in both studies. There was a slight difference in self-reported hypnosis depth between the placebo and the conventional induction procedures when they were both described as hypnosis, in favor of the conventional induction. However, this difference was small compared to the effect of description of the procedure as hypnosis. The effectiveness of hypnoanalgesia suggestions were the same in the conventional and the placebo induction conditions. In these trials both conventional and unconventional inductions were presented as hypnosis to participants.
The implications of these findings for theory, research, and clinical practice will be discussed during the talk.

Learning objectives:
Attendees will learn about:
- the psychological mechanisms involved in evoking hypnosis
- the effectiveness of different hypnosis induction techniques compared to each other
- new control conditions that can be used in clinical hypnosis research

 

Dr. Kekecs is an assistant professor at ELTE, Department of Affective Psychology. His research is related to the effectiveness of hypnosis interventions used in medicine, and the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying these effects. He is also a methodologist at the Psychological Science Accelerator committed to improving the reliability of research in psychological science, and hypnosis research in particular. He has published more than 70 research papers and book chapters in these are related topics.