ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relevance of social psychology as it relates to the phenomenon of human suggestibility. Suggestions are direct and indirect messages that can impart information, perspective and a call for action. There are many different factors that influence suggestibility, one of which is the degree to which people believe it is either necessary or desirable to be responsive to the suggestions of others. The relationship between suggestibility and the clinical benefits to be derived from hypnosis is an important domain of inquiry. Some clinicians are of the belief they can do therapy or do hypnosis without influencing the dynamics of the process. For example, they think they can hypnotically “dig” for hidden memories without influencing the quality of memories that emerge or they think they can be therapeutically neutral by refusing either to take sides with a family member or to offer a client direct advice.
