One of the first questions people ask about hypnosis is “would it work on me?” It is a good question, because the honest answer is: it depends on you.
Hypnotizability is a trait
Researchers have been measuring responsiveness to hypnosis since the 1950s, most famously with the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scales. These tests give a standard induction followed by a series of suggestions of increasing difficulty, from “your arm feels heavy” to “you cannot smell this strong odour,” and score how many the person experiences.
The results form a rough bell curve:
- Around 10 to 15 per cent of people are highly hypnotizable
- Around 10 to 15 per cent are low and respond to few or no suggestions
- The majority fall in the middle
It is remarkably stable
In one well-known study, Stanford researchers retested people 25 years after their first assessment. Their scores had barely changed. Hypnotizability appears to be about as stable as IQ across adult life. Twin studies suggest it is partly inherited. It tends to peak in late childhood and decline gently with age.
What predicts it?
Not what most people assume. Hypnotizability is not linked to gullibility, low intelligence, weak will, or being easily led.
The best-known link is with absorption: the tendency to become fully immersed in an experience. If you lose track of time in novels, films or music, cry at adverts, or had vivid imaginary play as a child, you may be more responsive. Even so, the link is modest. The only reliable way to find out is to try.
What is different in the brain?
Imaging studies have found that highly hypnotizable people show stronger connections between brain regions involved in executive control and those involved in detecting what is important. Researchers interpret this as a greater capacity to focus attention and to let it be directed.
Can you improve it?
A little. Your basic level seems fairly fixed, but several things help you make the most of what you have:
- Positive expectations. Believing it may help increases response.
- Trust in the practitioner.
- Motivation to change.
- Practice. People often respond better after a few sessions.
- Not trying too hard. Monitoring yourself gets in the way.
What if you are a low responder?
It does not mean hypnotherapy is useless for you. Many therapeutic suggestions are simple ones that most people can respond to, and the relaxation, focus and mental rehearsal are valuable in their own right. But for more demanding uses, such as significant pain control, high responders do tend to get the biggest benefit. If hypnosis is not doing much for you after a fair trial, other approaches such as CBT or mindfulness may suit you better.
A quick self-test
Hold both arms straight out in front of you, eyes closed. Imagine a heavy bucket of water hanging from your right wrist and a helium balloon tied to your left. Concentrate on that for a minute, then open your eyes. If your arms have moved apart, you have just responded to a suggestion. It is not a scientific measure, but it is a fun first taste.
The bottom line
Nearly everyone can experience hypnosis to some degree. How far it takes you is partly down to a trait you were born with, and partly down to your attitude going in.
Next in the series: Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for IBS: How Talking to Your Gut Can Calm It
This article is for general information and is not medical advice.