What is hypnotic suggestibility?

Answer 1

Hypnotic suggestibility is an individual's willingness/ ability to accept & respond to the suggestions of a hypnotist: most people can, if willing, be hypnotised, but some are more responsive than others. Stage hypnotists go to great lengths to identify such types among volunteers (eg hand clasp test), although, of course, in this context, the very fact of someone volunteering is often a good indicator of their suggestibility.

About 8% of the general population (some estimates are higher - 20%) are extremely suggestible & able to achieve a deep trance (somnambulistic) very easily. Such people are usually of higher intelligence, have active imaginations, and very developed powers of concentration. They are willing to trust the hypnotist, & are able to follow instructions in a focused way whilst suspending critical judgement.

Often such people had "imaginary friends" in childhood, and they tend to be avid readers, enthusiastic film watchers/ theatre goers, or enjoy acting/ role play generally. Other types who often do well are those who routinely follow instructions/ orders (eg nurses, military etc) or whose work requires sustained concentration (eg scientific researchers, artwork restorers etc). Not surprisingly, actors/ performers, & many artists tend to be pretty responsive.

That stated, without trust in the hypnotist & willingness to be hypnotised, it is very unlikely that any of the above could be hypnotised - they have to want it to happen. Highly hypnotically suggestible people are not "lame brains": quite the opposite - they tend to be the more intelligent & creative members of the population, and are usually characterised as stable personalities.

There are no totally reliable indicators of hypnotic suggestibility. People who can easily roll their eyes up into their heads & keep them there are usually very responsive. There is no correlation between hypnotic suggestibility & gullibility in general: just because someone is willing to "let go" & focus in order to be hypnotised it does not follow that they're unable to discriminate, make critical judgements, question etc in other situations.

Although some people - because of their personalities/ attitudes/ habits etc - are "naturals" for hypnosis, most people can, with practice, improve their hypnotic responsiveness; the more frequently they're hypnotised, the more responsive they tend to become. So, whilst it's evident that a few are naturally hypnotically suggestible (and this capability seems to remain pretty constant throughout life), it's also quite possible for someone with average, or even low, basic suggestibility to increase capability - if they so wish & are prepared to work at it. The converse is also, of course, true: if someone is unwilling to accept a hypnotist's suggestions, they won't!

Answer 2

Hypnotic suggestibility refers to an individual's tendency to be easily influenced or respond to suggestions while in a hypnotic state. People with high hypnotic suggestibility may be more likely to experience changes in perception, cognition, or behavior under hypnosis compared to those with low suggestibility. It is a key factor in determining the efficacy of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique.