Hypnotic responding: characteristics, measurement, and modification

Presented by Devin B. Terhune, PhD

Friday, November 20, 2026

9am-10:30am PT/ 11am-12:30pm CT/ 12pm-1:30pm ET

Event held online via Zoom, link to access provided upon registration.

Individuals vary considerably in their responsiveness to verbal suggestions in the context of hypnosis (hypnotic responding or hypnotizability). The measurement and study of hypnotic responding, in turn, has long formed the backbone of experimental hypnosis research. In this webinar, Dr. Terhune will briefly review the historical foundations of hypnotic responding measurement and introduce the most influential and widely used standardized hypnosis scales. Dr. Terhune will then review the principal characteristics of hypnotic responding, the phenomenology of hypnotic responding (the classic suggestion effect), as well as the methodological strengths and limitations of these scales. Turning next to the construct of hypnotic responding, Dr. Terhune will review historical and contemporary research on the correlates of hypnotic responding, with a focus on highly responsive individuals. We will consider developmental and genetic factors implicated in the origins of high hypnotic responding and then cover the most promising cognitive, personality, perceptual, clinical, and neurophysiological correlates thereof. Turning to clinical applications of hypnosis, Dr. Terhune will briefly consider the extent to which hypnotic responding measures reliably predict treatment outcomes and some of the challenges and controversies surrounding this question. In the final part of the webinar, we will review research efforts to augment hypnotic responding. This will cover psychological techniques, neuromodulatory (non-invasive brain stimulation) methods, and the use of pharmacological agents, such as psychedelics.

The webinar aims to provide attendees with a foundational understanding of research on hypnotic responding that will allow them to critically engage with contemporary research trends.

Zoom link will be available on course page in “My Courses” upon event registration.