November 2006, VOLUME 34, NUMBER 2, Abstract 4
ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS ABOUT HYPNOSIS IN AN AUSTRALIAN CITY
Kathryn M. Gow, Queensland University of Technology
Carla Mackie, Queensland University of Technology
Dianne Clohessy, Queensland University of Technology
Tamara Cowling, Queensland University of Technology
Robyn Maloney, Queensland University of Technology
David Chant, University of Queensland
To investigate the sources of influence on attitudes and misconceptions of hypnosis, 279 adult members of the general public in Brisbane (Australia) were recruited via door knocking. Their demographic details, ratings on 12 sources of influence about hypnosis, and responses to 58 question items on attitudes to hypnosis were collected in survey format. As predicted, results revealed moderate to strong endorsement of some misconceptions about hypnosis. Television, stage hypnotists, and movies were the most common sources of influence. There was a general trend of moderate attitude responses and it appeared that the majority of the target population had very few sources of influence on which to base their knowledge of hypnosis.