ABSTRACT
The state of hypnotic trance may occasionally occur spontaneously, but it is usually induced by special types of procedures that are labeled "hypnotic inductions". The traditional paradigm assumes that the suspended subject is able to support the weight of a man on his chest because he is in a special state of consciousness—a hypnotic trance state. Since the organism is a psychophysiological unity, special states of consciousness or special states of the organism are expected to have some physiological concomitants that distinguish them from nonspecial states. The special state paradigm seems to be supported by the fact that a substantial proportion of subjects who are highly responsive to test suggestions actually appear to be in a trance. Trancelike characteristics on the part of the subject appear to be artifacts that the experimenter can put into the suggestive situation and can also take out of the situation, and they certaintly are not necessary for high response to test suggestions.
