Hypnotic Coercion

Question 1

What is hypnotic coercion?

Answer 1

The use of hypnosis to introduce some sort of coercive power (mostly sexual, but could also be emotional, illegal, or against moral beliefs)

Question 2

What are the two types of coercion?

Answer 2

1. voluntary: an attempt from the hypnotist to control or manipulate a person’s behaviour for his/her own benefit
2. non-voluntary: an honest attempt at exploring a person’s memory, based on false beliefs and misinterpretations

Question 3

What is the link between hypnotizability and manipulation?

Answer 3

The higher hypnotizable you are, the more automatic the memory manipulation

Question 4

Can the coercive power of hypnosis be studied in the lab?

Answer 4

No (only the demand characteristics of the lab environment are observed)

Question 5

How can we evaluate the coercive power of hypnosis?

Answer 5

By looking at case studies

Question 6

Describe Mr. Magic’s case

Answer 6

In 1979, he attempted sexual assault on three clients; placed emphasis of therapy on sex (with more success for high hypnotizables)

Question 7

What did Mr. Magic’s victims describe, pertaining to their assault?

Answer 7

That they felt simultaneously the reality of a sexual assault and the false reality of the suggestion (causing them to question which one was real)

Question 8

What does coercion depend on?

Answer 8

The situation

- trust is given to the therapist, therefore a breach of trust is more easily accomplished

Question 9

What should be evaluated when someone makes a claim about being coerced through hypnosis (exam question)?

Answer 9

1. previous ongoing relationship (have they seen the perpetrator after the assault? In what context?)
2. belief and expectation of clients (which can create self-fulfilling prophecies)
3. hypnotizability, absorption, imagery
4. techniques used (warm suggestion, talk of sex in the interview, etc)
5. secondary gains (motivation of the client)