AAQ

Introduction

Nicholas P. Spanos' 1982 study "Hypnotic Behavior: A Cognitive, Social, Psychological Perspective" challenges the traditional view of hypnosis as a unique altered state of consciousness. Instead, Spanos suggests that hypnotic behaviors are influenced by cognitive and social factors, such as expectations and role-playing.  A hypnotic state is the heart rate change followed by weaken state of arousal.

Participants

The study involved multiple groups of participants from various studies conducted by Spanos and his colleagues prior to 1982. These participants were typically volunteers who were recruited to undergo hypnosis sessions and partake in various experiments to test hypnotic responses.

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Method

Spanos conducted a series of experiments to investigate the nature of hypnotic behavior. One notable experiment involved dividing participants into two groups:

Suggestion Group: Participants received suggestions such as "Your arm is very light and is rising."

Direct Instruction Group: Participants were given direct instructions like "Raise your arm."

Both groups underwent a hypnosis induction procedure before receiving their respective instructions or suggestions. The purpose was to see how the framing of commands (suggestion vs. direct instruction) influenced their perception of voluntary versus involuntary actions.

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Results and Discussion

Spanos found that participants in the suggestion group were more likely to interpret their actions as involuntary compared to those in the direct instruction group. This indicated that the way suggestions were presented influenced participants' perceptions of their own behavior. Participants often acted in accordance with their expectations of what it meant to be hypnotized, fulfilling the role they believed was expected of them.

Spanos concluded that hypnotic behavior is heavily influenced by social and cognitive factors rather than a special hypnotic state. He argued that the phenomena commonly attributed to hypnosis, such as perceived involuntary actions, can be explained by the participants' expectations and their willingness to comply with the hypnotist's suggestions. This challenges the traditional notion of hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness and supports the view that hypnotic behaviors are a form of social role-playing.

Spanos' research has significant implications for understanding hypnosis, suggesting that the effects of hypnosis can be achieved through normal psychological processes. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of how hypnosis is used in therapeutic settings and how it is perceived in both clinical and popular contexts​.

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A.  Identify the research method used in the study. 

     B.  State the operations definition of ____________

     C. Interpret basic statistics from a study (e.g. difference between means, a correlation, etc.)

                      Describe the meaning of the ( the  identified  statistics)

     D. Identify an ethical issue related to the study.

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     E. Discuss whether the findings of a study might be generalizable. 

     F.  Explain how the findings of a study support or do not support the hypothesis.