Interactional phenomenology of maternal and paternal hypnosis styles

Abstract

The study introduces an interactional analysis of subjective data (PCI and DIH questionnaires) from hypnotist and subject along with the concept of hypnosis styles (maternal/paternal scores), in a real-simulator design. It was expected that the subjective experiences of maternal and paternal hypnotists (and their subjects) are different: 1) maternal style is more emotional regarding both interactional and experience parameters, while paternal style is rather cognitive and sovereign; 2) subjects can experience subjective signs of alteration of their consciousness with both hypnosis styles; 3) while hypnotizing, maternal hypnotists are more likely to feel the alterations of their own level of consciousness, while paternal hypnotists remain reality-oriented. The correlational analysis of our data confirmed the above expectations and strengthened the construct of ‘hypnosis style’. Only slight, but characteristic differences could be observed between real and simulating interactions. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.