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Hypnotic Hypermnesia: By What Criterion?

NCJ Number
121935
Author(s)
D F Dinges
Date Published
1987
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the controversy over the legitimacy of hypermnesia (or memory recall) created by hypnosis.
Abstract
Fifty-four years ago, experimental psychologist Clark Hull pointed out that hypnosis seemed to bring about the recall of remote memories more effectively than it stimulated recall of recently acquired material. Since that time, experimental psychologists have been unable to establish effective criteria for identifying the effectiveness of hypnotic hypermnesia and have relied too heavily on clinical case reports, forensic anecdotes, or flawed laboratory studies. Research and laboratory studies are reviewed, with the observation that the criterion of "independent replication in well-controlled experimental studies" yields no definitive evidence of hypnotic hymermnesia. A study involving the use of forced recall procedures in order to assess the effects of hypnosis on memory is discussed in detail, with the conclusion that no evidence exists for a unique hypnotic hypermnesia. A second study, also reported in detail, yielded the conclusion that hypnosis provided no recall benefit when introduced after repeated non-hypnotic attempts at recall. Overall, little or no laboratory research exists to verify hypnotic hypermnesia.