Computerized content analysis : a comparison of the verbal productions of high hypnotizable, low hypnotizable and simulating subjects /

by Elter-Nodvin, Edeltraud.

This research was designed to investigate the domain of hypnosis and to explore how the “state” of hypnosis, along with the susceptibility to hypnosis relate to lexical choice in verbal productions as well as to primary/secondary process mentation. The hypothesis that hypnosis facilitates primary process mentation has held a central place in numerous psychoanalytically oriented theories of hypnosis (Gill & Brenman, 1959; Fromm, 1992; Nash, 1991). College students were screened for level of hypnotic susceptibility employing the following two hypnotic susceptibility scales: The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS: A; Shor & Orne, 1962) [Appendix D] and The Computer-Assisted Hypnosis Scale (CAH; Grant & Nash, 1995) [Appendix E]. A total of 89 subjects were identified: 32 high hypnotizable subjects and 57 low hypnotizable subjects. Via random selection about half of the 57 low hypnotizable subjects were assigned to be “Simulators” (Orne, 1979). Three groups were obtained: 32 high hypnotizable subjects, 29 low hypnotizable subjects and 28 low hypnotizable simulating subjects. Responses to six Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) cards and responses to five free speech story-openings were collected and tape-recorded during both the waking state (baseline) and the “state” of hypnosis. The standard induction procedure of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (Weitzenhoffer & Hilgard, 1962) [Appendix F] was utilized to hypnotize the subjects. The waking state and the “state” of hypnosis were counterbalanced. All tape-recordings of verbal productions were transcribed and analyzed by way of two computer content analysis programs: The Dartmouth Adaptation vi of The General Inquirer with the “Harvard III Psycho-Sociological Dictionary (Oxman et al., 1988) further referred to as “DAGI-III,” which analyzes a text for 105 lexical choice variables of verbal productions and COUNT with the Regressive Imagery Dictionary, a PL/I program for content analysis of natural language, further referred to as “COUNT- RID” (Martindale, 1973) which analyzes a text for 99 categories, among other variables, for level of primary and secondary process mentation. Summary of the results: 1) Results of 2x3 ANOVA for a priori selected variables of the “DAGI-III” content analysis program indicate: For the main effect of condition (baseline to hypnosis), a significant decrease in THOUGHT, a significant increase in EMOTION and a significant increase in SOCIAL was found. 2) Results of 2x3 ANOVA for a priori selected variables of the “COUNT-RID” content analysis program indicate: For the main effect of condition (baseline to hypnosis), a significant decrease in SECONDARY PROCESS and a significant increase in