Phenomenological experience in response to monotonous drumming and hypnotizability.
R L Maurer, V K Kumar, L Woodside, R J Pekala
The American journal of clinical hypnosis October 1, 1997 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/00029157.1997.10403417 via PubMed
Summary
Monotonous drumming can induce a medium trance state (scores 5-8) in most people, comparable to hypnosis. When drumming preceded hypnosis, subjective trance levels were higher than when hypnosis came first. Participants who reached deeper trance states more often reported relaxed feelings and shamanic-type experiences. The order of drumming and hypnosis did not affect objective hypnotic susceptibility scores.
Study at a glance
| Design | within-subjects experiment |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 206 |
| Population | adult participants |
| Key finding | Drumming before hypnosis increased subjective trance levels, and deeper trance during drumming was linked to relaxed and shamanic-type experiences. |
Abstract
Participants (N = 206) experienced 15-min of monotonous drumming either before or after hypnosis (Harvard scale). Participants completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) in reference to the last 4-min of drumming. Stimulus order did not affect the objective trance levels as measured by the Harvard scores. The subjective trance level as measured by hypnoidal scores (predicted Harvard scores from the PCI) was significantly higher when drumming preceded hypnosis. Participants' estimated average trance level achieved during drumming fell in the medium range of susceptibility (5-8) (Pekala, 1995). Participants who achieved higher hypnoidal and Harvard scores were more likely to report relaxed feelings and shamanic-type experiences in narratives about their subjective experiences during drumming.