Hypnotic Depth Scales
Hypnotic depth scales
If you’ve read my article on hypnotic phenomena, you will know that in hypnosis a client can be given suggestions to produce a number of hypnotic phenomena.
It used to be thought that the phenomena could only be used at certain depths of hypnosis and that hypnotisability was an innate ability like IQ. But in recent years, these phenomena have been used in light trance states and this is called waking hypnosis. The depth scales below are only here as a historic reference.
Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scales Form A (1938)
1 Postural Sway
2 Eye Closure
3 Hand Lowering (left)
4 Immobilisation (right arm)
5 Finger Lock
6 Arm Rigidity (left arm)
7 Hands Moving Together
8 Verbal Inhibition (name)
9 Hallucination (fly)
10 Eye Catalepsy
11 Post-hypnotic (changes chairs)
12 Amnesia
Harry Arons
1961- Arons Master Depth Rule Arons, H. New Master Course In Hypnotism. Irvington, N.J.: Power Publishers.
1. Hypnoidal
2. Light trance
3. Medium trance
4. Profound trance
5. Somnambulism
6. Profound Somnambulism
Some common clinical depth scales are:
1931 Davis-Husband Scale Davis L., and Husband, R. A Study of Hypnotic Susceptibility in Relation to Personality Traits. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1931 pp# 26, 175-182.
Depth Score Responses to Test Suggestions
Insusceptible
0 None
1 Hypnoidal
1 Relaxation
2 Fluttering of the eyelids
3 Closing of the eyes
4 Complete physical relaxation
5 Catalepsy of the eye-lids
2 Light trance
6 Limb catalepsy
7 Rigid catalepsies
8, 9, 10 Progressive Glove anaesthesia
11, 12 Partial posthypnotic amnesia
3 Medium trance
13, 14 Post hypnotic amnesia
15, 16 Personality changes
17, 18, 19 Kinaesthetic delusions
20 Complete amnesia by suggestion
4 Deep trance
21 Ability to open eyes without affecting the trance
22 Bizarre posthypnotic suggestions
23, 24 Complete somnambulism
25 Positive visual hallucinations
26 Positive auditory hallucinations
27 Posthypnotic systematised amnesias
28 Negative auditory hallucinations
29 Negative visual hallucinations
30 Hyperaesthesia
1947- Lecron-Bordeaux Scoring system for Indicating Depth of Hypnosis Lecron, L., and Bordeaux, J. Hypnotism Today. New York: Grune and Stratton. pp # 64-67
Depth Score Symptoms and Phenomena Exhibited
Insusceptible
0 Subject fails to react in any way
1 Hypnoidal
1 Physical Relaxation
2 Drowsiness apparent
3 Fluttering of eyelids
4 Closing of eyes
5 Mental relaxation, partial lethargy of mind
6 Heaviness of limbs
2 Light trance
7 Catalepsy of eyes
8 Partial limb catalepsy
9 Inhibition of small muscle groups
10 Slower and deeper breathing, slower pulse
11 Strong lassitude (disinclination to move, speak, think, or act)
12 Twitching of mouth or jaw
13 Rapport between subject and operator
14 Simple posthypnotic suggestions heeded
15 Involuntary start or eye twitch on awakening
16 Personality changes
17 Feeling of heaviness throughout entire body
18 Partial feeling of detachment
3 Medium trance
19 Recognition of trance (difficult to describe but definitely felt)
20 Complete muscular inhibitions (kinaesthetic delusions)
21 Partial amnesia
22 Glove anaesthesia
23 Tactile illusions
24 Gustatory illusions
25 Olfactory illusions
26 Hyper acuity to atmospheric conditions
27 Complete catalepsy of limbs or body
4 Deep or somnambulistic trance
28 Ability to open eyes without affecting trance
29 Fixed stare when eyes are open; pupillary dilation
30 Somnambulism
31 Complete amnesia
32 Systematised posthypnotic amnesia
33 Complete anaesthesia
34 Posthypnotic anaesthesia
35 Bizarre posthypnotic suggestions heeded
36 Uncontrolled movements of eyeballs
37 Sensation of lightness, floating, swinging, of being bloated or swollen, detached feeling
38 Rigidity and lag in muscular movements and reactions
39 Operator’s voice seems like a radio station fading in and out.
40 Control of organic body functions (heart beat, blood pressure, digestion, etc.)
41 Recall of lost memories (hyperamnesia)
42 Age regression
43 Posthypnotic positive visual hallucinations
44 Posthypnotic negative visual hallucinations
45 Posthypnotic positive auditory hallucinations
46 Posthypnotic negative auditory hallucinations
47 Stimulation of dreams (in trance or posthypnotic in natural sleep)
48 Hyperaesthesia
49 Colour sensations experienced
50 Stuporous condition in which all spontaneous activity is inhibited.
1957- Heron Depth Scale OIeron, W. Clinical Applications Of Suggestion And Hypnosis. Springfield, Il.: Charles C. Thomas.
1968- Hartman Depth Scale Hartman, B. An Outline Of Clinical Hypnosis. St. Louis. Mo.: The National Foundation For Research In Clinical Hypnosis.
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