Characteristics of temperament and susceptibility to hypnosis

Abstract

I N T R O D U C T I O N: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between hypnotizability and temperamental traits such as liveliness, perseverance, sensory sensitivity, emotional reactivity, endurance and activeness. M A T E R I A L A N D M E T H O D S: The study involved 120 students (89 females and 31 males) of a secondary school, aged 17–19. The Creative Imagination Scale (SWT) by Wilson and Barber and the Formal Characteristics of Behavior – Temperament Questionnaire (FCZ-KT) were used in the research. The results were analyzed statistically. R E S U L T S: Sensory sensitivity was shown to correlate significantly with a susceptibility to hypnosis. No statistically significant differences in hypnotizability between the sexes were identified. Moreover, extreme groups of individuals representing the highest and the lowest hypnotic ability were identified. Sensory sensitivity (p = 0.003) was found to be the only predictor variable in regression analysis for hypnotizability. Discriminant analysis revealed that 68% of cases differing in the ‘hypnosis’ variable can be correctly classified on the basis of the temperament variables. C O N C L U S I O N S: This study showed that there is a relationship between the temperament trait – sensory sensitivity and hypnotizability. Sensory sensitivity also proved to be a predictor of hypnotizability. There are no differences between sexes in terms of hypnotizability.

Keywords

• adolescents
• temperament
• susceptibility to hypnosis