Overt and Covert Pacing of Suggestions to Phases of the Breathing Cycle to Enhance Hypnotic Responding

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that the pacing of suggestions to phases of the breathing cycle can enhance responding in hypnosis. Ninety-six subjects at three levels of hypnotizability responded to suggestions for coolness/numbness and arm lightness/levitation both paced and counter-paced to the phase of breathing (inhalation) claimed to enhance responding to them. As a test of pacing as a technique for indirect hypnosis, the covert pacing of such suggestions was compared to overt pacing. Results failed to demonstrate a relationship between the pacing of the phases of breathing and its hypothesized effects. Responding to suggestions was related to level of hypnotizability and an interaction was noted between overtness/covertness of pacing and level of hypnotizability.