The relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and ego functions

In this study, individuals were interviewed about their thoughts, feelings and coping skills in everyday experiences, and then were hypnotized. The purpose of the study was to understand the relationship between personality characteristics, described in terms of level of ego functioning, and hypnotic susceptibility. The interviews were based upon the Bellak Ego Function Assessment Technique, which measured 12 ego functions. Questions were open-ended and designed solely to elicit information.

Forty-eight subjects were seen for three to five sessions. In the initial session, subjects were interviewed to obtain information in order to assess their levels of ego functioning. In subsequent sessions, subjects were assisted in achieving "maximum depth" in hypnosis.

The major results indicated that the subjects' level of hypnotic susceptibility was related to their ability to screen sensory input adaptively, regress in the service of the ego, and to their capacity to resist intrusions from drives, conflictual material, ideas, affect and impulses. It was concluded that hypnotic susceptibility is influenced by existing levels of ego functioning. It appears that no one ego function is a single best predictor of hypnotic susceptibility, but that a combination of ego functions is the best predictor of hypnotic potential. A relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and levels of ego functioning was proposed by the author.

Methodological concerns were discussed regarding the range of rating of the subjects' responses and the limitation of the generalizability of the results. Results and clinical implications for clinical work involving hypnosis were discussed.