Effects of Weight-Related Literal and Metaphorical Suggestions About the Forearms During Hypnosis
Résumé
Abstract: During hypnosis, the authors tested repeated weight-related,
literal and metaphorical suggestions about the heaviness of
the subjects’ arms. The purpose was to determine if linguistically
varied hypnotic suggestions produced significantly different motor
reactions—involuntary pressure forces of the forearms—as assessed
by a linguistic biomechanical system. Classic, literal (L) suggestions
such as “your right arm is heavy” were used, as well as metaphorical
(M) suggestions, such as “your right arm is made of lead.” A
specific effect on the progressive increase of pressure forces only in
the temporal sequence L-M for each forearm (literal suggestions followed
by metaphorical suggestions) was found. This effect, termed
crescendo image metaphor effect, conceptualized within context-limited
simulation theory, explains the findings.