Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis does not improve our memory of past events. While hypnosis does influence confidence in recollections, it does not improve their accuracy.
Researchers at Ohio State University in Lima tested the effects of hypnosis on memory by placing 48 subjects under hypnosis while another 48 performed relaxation exercises. Each group was given 20 minutes to identify the month and year of 20 noteworthy events, asked how confident they were in their responses, and given their tests back. They were told they had at least one wrong answer and were allowed to make corrections.
Lead author Joseph Green, associate professor of psychology at Ohio State, notes that “the relaxation group and the hypnotized group were equally accurate–or equally inaccurate.” As reported at the American Psychological Association’s meeting in San Francisco, no difference existed between the groups’ confidence in their accuracy. However, just 17% of hypnotized students revised answers, while 25% from the relaxation group made corrections.
Even when hypnotized subjects reported low confidence, they remained unlikely to alter their responses. This “implies a greater trust in their original answer,” Green said, and also implies faith in the power of hypnosis to enhance accuracy. However, the relaxation exercise might decrease confidence, making hypnosis subjects seem comparatively more certain.
Compliments of Practical Memory Institute www.memoryzine.com
