Thesis (M.A.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, a Multiple Baseline across People design was used with a sample of 6 Fibromyalgia (FS) sufferers in order to evaluate the efficacy of a multidimensional treatment programme on: pain intensity, duration of pain experiences and intake of medication. The programme which consisted of weekly 2 hourly sessions over a period of 6 weeks, combined hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis with cognitive-behavioural techniques. Attempts were made to customise interventions to the specific needs of the individual. The following three hypotheses were postulated: That introduction of the treatment programme would: 1) reduce pain intensity levels; 2) reduce the duration of pain experiences (average daily pain hours) thus minimising the interference of pain into the lives of the patients; 3) reduce the intake of medication. All three of the hypotheses are supported by the results. Graphs show that pain intensity levels, average daily pain hours (duration) and intake of medication clearly decreased over the treatment process from baseline to follow up. For hypotheses 1 and 2, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was applied which showed that the results were also statistically significant. The study yielded qualitative information regarding two areas of FS: 1) possible etiological factors contributing towards the syndrome; 2) the elucidation of various therapeutic components responsible for alleviating specific FS symptoms. In particular, the study highlights the importance of targeting maladaptive cognitions linked to pain experiences as well as of taking account of individual interpersonal issues in the management of FS sufferers. An etiological model is presented by the author which views FS within a systemic framework III which vanous variables (psychological and physiological) operating at the individual, environmental and socio-cultural levels, interact to produce the syndrome. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is van 'n Meervoudige Basislynontwerp met Mense (''Multiple Baseline across People") gebruik gemaak om 'n steekproef van 6 Fibromialgie (FS) pasiente te evalueer ten opsigte van pynintensiteit, tydsduur van pynervarings en die inneem van medikasie. Die program, 'n kombinasie van hipnose met kognitiewe gedragstegnieke, het bestaan uit weeklikse sessies van 2 ure elk oor 'n tydperk van 6 weke. Die intervensies wat plaasgevind het, was ook gerig op die spesifieke behoeftes van die individu. Die volgende drie hipoteses IS gestel, naamlik dat die toepassing van die behandelingsprogram sou: 1) die pyn-intensiteitsvlakke verminder; 2) die tydsduur van die pyn-ervarings verminder en die voorkoms van pyn in die pasient se lewe minimaliseer; 3) die inname van medikasie verminder. Al drie hipoteses is betekenisvolondersteun deur die resultate. Die statistiese grafieke het getoon dat die pyn-intensiteitsvlakke, die gemiddelde daaglikse pyn-ervaringsure en die inname van medikasie, betekenisvol verminder het oor die behandelingsperiode vanaf basislyn tot opvolgperiode. Die ''Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test" het ten opsigte van hipoteses 1 en 2 ook statisties betekenisvolle resultate aangetoon. Die kwalitatiewe inligting vanuit die ondersoek bekom, het twee aspekte rakende FS navore gebring, naamlik: 1) die moontlike etiologiese faktore wat bedra tot die sindroom en 2) 'n duideliker omlyning van die terapeutiese komponente verantwoordelik vir die versagting van spesifieke FS simptome. In besonder is die wanaangepaste kognisies geassosieer met pynervanrings uitgelig, asook die interpersoonlike probleme wat FS pasiente ervaar in die behandelingsprogram. 'n Etiologiese model, wat FS binne 'n sisterniese raamwerk plaas, IS deur die navorser voorgestel. Laasgenoemde model spreek die verskeidenheid van sielkundige en fisiologiese veranderlikes, wat op die individu, omgewing en sosiokulturele vlakke inwerk, op so 'n wyse aan dat dit die sindroom meer verklaarbaar maak.

This study evaluated the role of asymmetric processing of information in depression. Depression has been hypothesized to involve a deficit in the global processing of information (Tucker, 1982). This type of global processing has been manipulated through the use of hypnosis by Crawford and Allen (1983). In the current study, a 3 x 2 ANCOVA design allowed the comparison of three groups of subjects on their performance on a perceptual task measuring global perception. The task chosen was designed by Navon (1977) and consisted of designs which differed on global or local features. The groups were screened with the Beck Depression Inventory, the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, yielding 46 subjects divided into three groups of right-handed males and females. The experimental group consisted of high susceptible depressives from the community. The controls were one group of high susceptible normals and one of low susceptible depressives. All groups performed the Navon task under both waking and hypnosis conditions. Analysis of the results revealed a main effect for group (F(2, 86) = 9.60, p < .01) on the global scores. In addition, high social desirability scores predicted slower presentation times. However, hypnosis was not effective in creating a significant change in performance on the dependent measure. The results are discussed as support for the hypothesized differences between depressives and normals. Differences between the measures used in the present study and that of Crawford and Allen suggest that hypnosis may mediate imagery at a conceptual level but not at the level of the primary visual-perceptual system.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

This study investigates an application of hypnotic audiotapes to a specific group of college freshmen. Hypnotherapy is recognized as a viable adjunct to counseling, and it is known that hypnosis is possible via audiotapes. The study examines the use of hypnotic audiotapes designed to affect study habits and attitudes.

Historically psychobiography has focused to a large extent on the study of pathology in human development. In recent years, scholars in the field of psychobiography have recommended that studies with a eugraphic focus be undertaken, thereby investigating optimal human development. Milton Hyland Erickson (1901-1980) was an American psychologist and psychiatrist. An extraordinary creative individual who conducted pioneering work in the field of hypnosis. Whilst vast publications of his academic work exist and his work is continued through the Milton H. Erickson Foundation and its global subsidiaries, in comparison, his life story has not been the focus of much study. The psychobiographical merit of Erickson as the subject of the study was based on his involvement in interesting and important events, as well as his resilient attitude towards life, during even dire moments. The focus of this psychobiography was to conceptualise Erickson’s life in terms of the principles of Adler’s Individual Psychology and Peterson and Seligman’s Character Strengths and Virtues Classification. Through this process it was aimed to provide descriptions and interpretations of Erickson’s personality in order to illuminate aspects such as his creativity, service to others, and optimism. The study is written from the first person perspective and is rooted in the interpretive paradigm. It utilises a qualitative research approach in order to gain an in-depth understanding of Erickson’s finished life and thereby taking into account contextual factors. The two theoretical frameworks guided the iterative data collection and data analysis processes and the data were organised into a descriptive framework. The method of data analysis was idiographic thus describing the uniqueness of Erickson life. Strategies such as the triangulation of data sources and theory, focusing on aspects of saliency, trustworthiness, and ethics were employed to ensure reliable data extraction and interpretation. The study revealed that both theoretical frameworks were appropriate in their description and interpretation of Erickson’s personality and character strengths. Of significance was the protective role that creativity, social interest, hope, and optimism played against trauma and these emerged as central themes in Erickson’s life in terms of his psychological wellbeing. The findings on creativity and social interest are supported by existing research and theory but also highlight perspectives for future research. Creativity is a key component of knowledge production and therefore research in this area could improve our understanding of how it can be nurtured and developed across the lifespan. Whilst the construct of social interest was integral to this study its validity in terms of providing adequate explanations of how individuals balance their own needs against the needs of others was examined and suggestions of where the theory can be elaborated were highlighted.

To test the hypothesis that a metaphorical technique would be more effective than a direct technique to induce hypnosis, 60 volunteers from students at North Texas State University were divided into high- and low-susceptible subjects by the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. They were randomly assigned to direct and metaphorical induction groups and to a control group, with 10 high- and 10 low-susceptible subjects in each group. After hypnosis they completed the Field Inventory of Hypnotic Depth, and their mean scores were subjected to an analysis of variance and a Newman-Keuls test. Neither method of hypnotic induction was found more effective than the other, although both were effective when compared to a control group. It was also found that subjects who expected to be able to experience hypnosis were no more likely to be hypnotized than those who expected not to be able to experience hypnosis. Finally, it was found that low-susceptible subjects were as likely to respond to a post-hypnotic suggestion as high-susceptible subjects.

This study investigated depth of hypnosis self-reported by subjects on the Field Inventory of Hypnotic Depth (FIHD) after experiencing one of two formal hypnotic inductions. The 68 subjects (41 females and 27 males) ranged in age from 17 to 47 (mean 25.3) and were placed into a high susceptibility group or a low susceptibility group based on their scores on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS:A). Both the low susceptibility group and the high susceptibility group were further divided randomly so that half of each group received an indirect induction treatment and the other half received a direct induction treatment.

Posthypnotic amnesia has been systematically investigated in the past and subsequently alluded to as either role enacted behavior or evidence for an altered state of consciousness. Recall and recognition have been tested during posthypnotic amnesia and as in normal memory functioning, recognition performance has been found to be usually superior to recall performance. In order to gain further understanding of the circumstances which facilitate amnesic behavior, an experiment was carried out which was designed to vary the usual manner in which recall and recognition memory are observed during posthypnotic amnesia.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences