Pseudomemory and age regression: an exploratory study.
Hypnotizable (N = 9) and simulating subjects (N = 8) were age regressed to the previous week's hypnosis session and received a suggestion to hear a phone ring during the earlier session (no phone actually rang). Pseudomemory rates in response to open-ended questions were low in this study (0% hypnotizable and simulating subjects) and in previous research (Lynn, Weekes, & Milano, 1989; 12.5% hypnotizable; 10% simulating subjects) in which the phone-ring suggestion was not embedded in the context of age regression. In response to a forced-choice question, 22.22% of the hypnotizable and 25% of the simulating subjects indicated that the suggested phone ring was an actual event, a pseudomemory rate somewhat higher than our previous study in which none of the subjects reported pseudomemories in response to a forced-choice question. When the occurrence of the target stimulus of a pseudomemory suggestion is publicly verifiable, the pseudomemory rate is low.
Lynn
S J
SJ
Psychology Department, Ohio University, Athens 45701.
Milano
M
M
Weekes
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D012043:Regression, Psychology; D013404:Suggestion