Hypnotic phenomena and altered states of consciousness: a multilevel framework of description and explanation

There is broad agreement that hypnotic suggestions alter subjective experience, not just observable behavior, but no consensus exists on the theoretical explanation for these experiential changes. The debate between 'state' and 'nonstate' views centers on whether a special internal state is necessary to explain hypnosis. Placing this disagreement within a multilevel explanatory framework reveals that the conflict is about the appropriate level of description for the phenomenon. A novel multilevel approach is proposed to generate empirically testable hypotheses about hypnosis, aiming to integrate hypnosis research with multidisciplinary consciousness studies.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract There is currently agreement that, in addition to the changes in external behaviour, suggestions presented in a hypnotic context may give rise to changes in subjective experience. Yet, there is no general agreement about the theoretical framework within which these changes in experience should be explained. Though different theories about hypnosis overlap in many respects, there is still disagreement on whether reference to a specific internal state of the individual is necessary in order to explain these changes. We place the explanatory task in the context of a multilevel framework of explanation, which reveals that the disagreement between the ‘state’ and ‘nonstate’ view is about the level of description at which the phenomenon ‘hypnosis’ should be conceptualized. We propose a novel approach using the multilevel explanation which helps to formulate empirically testable hypotheses about the nature of hypnosis. We will outline the basic elements of such an approach and hope that our proposition will help hypnosis research to integrate with the multidisciplinary research on other phenomena of consciousness. Copyright © 2003 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis