Characteristics of the hypnotic state

The researchers, scholars and clinicians do not agree to a certain level when defining the nature of hypnosis. However, they seem to have a broad agreement (with exceptions, of course) about the features present in hypnosis. For a review of these features, we can continue what has been noted by the invaluable work done by Spanish researchers and Gonzalez Ordi Miguel Tobal (1988):

Increased suggestibility (hyper suggestibility)

For some authors this is one of the main features of the hypnotic state: the use of appropriate suggestions and directions to cause cognitive, psychological or behavioral changes in the individual so the subject gets into a more receptive state (Bowers, 1976; Gibson Heap 1991; Kroger, 1963; Wolberg, 1982).

Increasing the capacity of mental images

Many of the procedures derived from the cognitive-behavioral therapy framework are carried out by using strategies based on the imagination and visualization. Hypnosis has used imaginative techniques to induce specific emotional states (Bower, 1981) and increase the responsiveness of the subject to hypnotic or therapeutic interventions (Hilgard, 1974) focused on metaphors related to the subject or the subject's emotional problems or simply hypnotize through a similar manner used by cognitive-behavioral psychologists outside hypno-suggestive procedures. It is beyond doubt that hypnosis increases the ability from the imaginative and visual mind of the subject (Hilgard and Bower, 1979).

An increase in emotional involvement regarding situations imagined by the subject or directly suggested by the expert

The hypnotized subject experiences the images suggested by the hypnotist as if they were real. The emotional involvement derived from the hypnotic procedures are in no doubt one of the factors that promote therapeutic changes. Through hypnosis and optimized visualization techniques the benefits of treatment arise from the use of imagination (Ellis, Meichenbaum and Beck).

Focusing attention to a restricted stimulus situation: verbal suggestions and/or tools used by the expert

The restricted repetitive sensor stimulation (standard hypnotic induction procedures) promote targeting of the hypnotized subject's attention to discrete elements suggested by the therapist and to put into words the focus on these elements (Bowers, 1976; Wickramasekera, 1988).

Distortion of the psychological variables of space and time

The restrictive and progressive sensor attention has as a result for the hypnotized individual that they can loose a fixed space-time reference, creating a subjective distortion in the measurement and interpretation of these variables (Wickramasekera, 1988).

Automatic behavior

Spanos (1982) discussed the importance of a concept of involuntariness (or automatic behavior), related to "dissociation." These do not necessarily imply an altered state of consciousness, but a different interpretation and sensor stimulation of an observable fact. In a procedure of "arm stiffness", the subject interprets and is involved in an involuntary behavioral experience in a particular way based on an objective fact. This performance is also influenced and facilitated by what the individual thinks about the phenomenon.

A feeling of deep relaxation

Although it was traditionally thought that hypnosis invokes deep relaxation, recent studies show that there is not necessary a direct relationship between relaxation and the subjective sensation of relaxation from the point of view when physiological arousal is reduced. In this sense, hypnosis seems to have more influence on the subjective aspects of the physiological mind and even more when specific suggestions to modify this physiological mind are used (Gonzalez Ordi and Miguel Tobal, 1994).

Psycho-physiological disorders directly related to the characteristics of suggestions

In the application of neutral hypnosis (no additional suggestions used) there appears to be a psycho-physiological activation pattern present that is also used in classical techniques of anxiety reduction (relaxation, meditation, autogenic training ...). However, when specific suggestions are added for change in certain physiological responses, it appears that the pattern of response is modified in the direction proposed by these suggestions. (Barber, 1961; Crawford and Gruzelier, 1992; Miguel Tobal y González Ordi, 1984 and 1993; Sarbin and Slagle, 1979 and 1980).

These characteristics demonstrate the role hypnosis can play in cognitive-behavioral therapy, since all of them can positively determine the outcome of any psychological exercise. Increased suggestibility, increased quality and quantity of imaginative production, emotional involvement, the focus of patient interest and the feeling of deep relaxation are the more interesting and prominent areas in the clinical application of hypnosis.