Hypnotic behavior: the differentiation of trance and demand characteristic variables.

Hypnotic Ss received posthypnotic suggestions (a) to begin all sentences to the ostensible experimental (Taffel) task with "he" and "they," and (b) to be unaware of and amnesic for this fact. Waking simulator Ss received identical suggestions preceded by instructions to behave later as though they had been hypnotized when they received the suggestions. During a postexperimental inquiry with a different E, 8 of 14 hypnotic Ss were amnesic for their experimental behavior; none of the 13 simulating Ss were amnesic (p < .0005). All simulating Ss testified that their use of "he" and "they" was voluntary; the reverse was true for 12 of 14 hypnotic Ss (p < .00005). The results of this experiment demonstrate that hypnotic behavior is not wholly reducible to acting in accordance with demand characteristics, and suggest that there is a "state" of hypnosis within which suggestions have a peculiarly potent effect.