Thesis--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-66).

Thesis (M.A. in education)--Washington State University, May 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-54).

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The nature of hypnosis and trance is investigated in the context of Western psychology, and traditional African healing practises. The historical development, definitions of nature of hypnosis and trance, and theoretical background of both these phenomena are described. Similarities and differences between Western hypnosis and African trance are described. Western hypnosis and African trance are found to be embedded in the context which provides their meaning. The similarities and differences between the African healing trance induction process and the Western context of hypnotherapy are discussed in terms of the ecosystemic theories. The content and characteristics of hypnosis in these two spheres are not seen as important as is the context and process of these phenomena. It is found that the expected characteristics of hypnosis in Western psychotherapy, and traditional African trance states, and the similarities and differences between them, are not absolute realities, but rather culturally shaped experiences which people come to expect.

The efficacy of a rational hypnotherapeutic intervention for anxiety states and panic attacks is the focus of this research. Based on a single subject research design, the co-researcher was asked to complete pre-therapy, during and post-therapy assessments of personality, self-concept, mood states, stress and physiological symptoms. The baseline period was two weeks and therapy lasted 13 weeks. There were two weeks of post-therapy measures and finally a six-month follow-up study. The intervention was comprised of progressive relaxation, guided imagery, a cognitive restructuring and behaviour rehearsal based on an A-B-C-D-E paradigm. The subject examined her self-defeating or irrational thoughts in critical incidents and her subjective emotional behavioural and physiological reactions. She was then asked to substitute her own new more rational thoughts in the same situation. Post-therapy results from the objective tests and self-reports demonstrated significant improvement in almost all areas. Following the rational hypnotherapeutic intervention the co-researcher showed a normal personality profile, increased self-concept, improvement in mood states and a significant reduction in stress and physiological symptoms. This improvement was maintained in the six-month follow-up. Rational hypnotherapy is effective, relatively short-term and encourages the client to play an active role in finding new ways to deal effectively with problems and accept control over his/her own life. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Recent research was reviewed which claimed to demonstrate that hypnotic suggestions could be used to control blood flow. Numerous methodological and conceptual problems in these studies were identified and a rigid experimental design with tighter controls was employed to investigate the claimed effects on blood flow. Subjects listened to either a standardized hypnotic induction or a passage of relaxing music. Both groups then listened to the Creative Imagination Scale (Wilson & Barber, 1978) (CIS) which ended with an added item containing suggestions of coolness. Localized skin temperature of the right hand was monitored throughout as an indication of blood flow. No significant blood flow increases in response to suggestions of warmth nor decreases in response to suggestions of coolness were observed. The experience of suggested events did not differ significantly between those subjects who received the induction and those who received the passage of music. An increase in blood flow occurred in response to receiving either an induction or music. There was, however, no significant difference between these two groups on the magnitude of the increase. Neither was there a significant difference in this magnitude between high scorers on the CIS and low scorers on the CIS. Results of this and previous studies were discussed within the context of the effects of relaxation as an alternative explanation to the supposed effects of hypnotic suggestion.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-82) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1969. / Bibliography: leaves 41-45.

Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, Depart of Anatomy and Histology, 1981.