Hypnosis: Developments in Research and New Perspectives

Although research and practice in hypnosis has seen un- precedented expansion, there has been a lack of inclusive and comprehensive surveys to aid the student and researcher. This collection written by leading experimental investigators is the first work to offer a current state-of-the-art in hypnosis research. A compendium of the historical background, theories, issues, and trends in hypnosis, this volume represents all major experimental viewpoints while providing a virtual "who's who" in the field of hypnosis. The book establishes the current theoretical base of the field and reviews the historical background. Seventeen contributions focus directly on key aspects of present-day hypnosis research. These contributions are organized as surveys of broad topic areas, descriptions in depth of individual investigator's programmatic lines of research, and reports on research within specific areas, especially those representing new viewpoints and holding promise for programmatic development. A final chapter develops questions for future research. This book presents many new ideas while updating established positions in research and theory. The vital areas covered in connection with hypnosis psychophysiology, creativity, dreams, imagination, suggestibility, simulator controls, cognitive activity, and ego-psychological theory. In addition, there are chapters on hypnosis as a research method, the measurement of altered states of consciousness, and hypnotic programming techniques in psychological experiments. Research Developments and Perspectives is written for researchers in hypnosis and clinical practitioners in medicine and psychology. The book will serve as a basic text in all courses in hypnosis at the graduate level. Erika Fromm (1909-2003) was professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Chicago; she was president of the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis, and the clinical editor of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and associate editor of The Bulletin of the British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis. Ronald E. Shor is associate professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire and vice-chairman of the Education and Research Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.