ABSTRACT
One of the central questions of hypnosis research is whether or not hypnotic responsiveness is resistant to change (Lynn and Rhue, 1991). Some researchers argue that it can be enhanced only a small amount (e.g. Benham et al., 1998) whereas others propose that large average increases can be reliably produced (e.g. Spanos, 1986). All investigators agree that hypnotic responsiveness can be increased at least to some degree (e.g. Bates et al., 1988). This chapter describes a number of methods that have been used to enhance hypnotic responsiveness and reviews research on the effectiveness of each procedure. In agreement with Diamond (1974), it is argued that enhancement can be produced using any of a number of methods. Evidence also now makes it clear that some methods are more effective than others and that large gains in hypnotic responsiveness can be generated reliably using some techniques.
