Joseph Reyher

Enhancement of Creativity via Free-Imagery and Hypnosis

Abstract Thirty-six male, highly susceptible subjects, divided into hypnosis, simulation and waking groups, were given the Torrance Test of Creativity with modified instructions requiring them to wait passively for visual images in response to the test stimuli. Twelve waking subjects received the same test under standard instructions. The hypnotized group scored higher than all control groups on over-all creativity and on Figural creativity, but not on Verbal creativity. The results seem to support the application of the ego-analytic concept of “adaptive regression” to both hypnosis and creativity. They also seem to confirm the association found between hypnosis and the activation of the non-verbal cerebral hemisphere.

Repression, Psychopathology and Drive Representation: An Experimental Hypnotic Investigation of Impulse Inhibition

Abstract A hypnotically induced paramnesia involving hostile impulses was activated posthypnotically at three levels of conflict-intensity by the tachistoscopic presentation of words related to the paramnesia. Ss who achieved awareness into the induced impulses upon conflict-word recognition and who eventually carried out the destructive urge constituted the Poor Repressor group. The Good Repressor group did not act upon the induced impulses and verbalized less awareness of them. All Ss had responded initially to a set of 10 TAT cards which were scored for drive representation, drive integration, and drive socialization. The Poor Repressors expressed more drive-related content, better integration of the drive, and less socialization of the drive than the Good Repressors. The latter also tended to manifest more symptoms of a somatic character. Both groups differed from simulating Ss.

FIGURE DRAWING ANXIETY INDEXES: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

Summary The authors reviewed 51 studies of human figure drawings with reference to 21 anxiety indexes. The research findings for each of 21 indexes with traditional clinical interpretation were categorized as: a) in agreement b) in disagreement: opposite direction, or, c) nonsignificant. The authors conclude that on the whole, research results seem to uphold the validity of a number of anxiety indexes. A total of 147 findings were found to be in agreement with traditional interpretation, while only 30 findings were significant in the opposite direction, and 78 findings were nonsignificant. Omission, distortion, detail loss, line pressure increase, heavy line, size increase and decrease, head simplification, and trunk simplification have consistently yielded significant results in the expected direction (increase indicates anxiety). Evidence was less consistent for reinforcement, line discontinuity, light line, vertical imbalance, delineation line absence, and transparency. Some studies found significantly...

The Effect of Different Types of Influence on an “Indirect-Direct” Form of a Scale of Sensory Suggestibility

Abstract To overcome the use of a fragile ruse in indirect methods of assessing suggestiblity, an indirect-direct method was developed wherein subjects are cautioned that an announced sensory stimulus may not actually be presented. The scale consists of twelve tactual, auditory, and visual items. Each item is administered to the left and right sides of the body, and the method of presentation (e.g., progressive increase in intensity of stimulation) is varied. The scale is indirect in that stimuli are never presented to participants, contrary to their expectations; it is direct because they are cautioned that a stimulus might not actually be presented. The scale was shown to have acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability and resistance to influence by situational variables. There also was a leftside advantage which might be confounded with order of presentation. Five methods of presentation were not equally successful. Progressive Intensification of stimulation was the most successful, wh...

Degree of Repression and Frequency of Psychosomatic Symptoms

A rational index of repression was derived by utilizing items from personality inventories which reflected varying degrees of repression. The repression index was found to be inversely related to the frequency of somatic symptoms. This finding was successfully replicated and its theoretical and professional implications are discussed.

The Induction of Hypnosis: Indirect vs. Direct Methods and the Role of Anxiety

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate a method of facilitating hypnotic susceptibility through an induction procedure administered without the Ss awareness of hypnotic intent. It was also intended to determine the effect of this procedure in terms of arousal, as compared to an overt administration of hypnotic induction. Twenty Ss were randomly assigned to either a relaxation group (RH) or an overt hypnosis group (OH). Ss assigned to the RH group received instructions describing the research as an experiment in relaxation, while Ss in the OH group received instructions describing the research as an experiment in hypnosis. After some preliminary relaxation exercises, each S was given an altered version of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS) from which their susceptibility scores were tabulated. Arousal was measured by GSR frequency. The OH group produced significantly more GSRs per second than the RH group when they were given their instructions, and these Ss did not use the w...

Emergent Uncovering Psychotherapy: The Use of Imagoic and Linguistic Vehicles in Objectifying Psychodynamic Processes

Spontaneous visual imagery does not characteristically occur in an interpersonal relationship; hypnogogic and hypnopompic images, nocturnal dreams, daydreams, fantasies, and hallucinations are private events. Spontaneous visual imagery is unpredictable and idiosyncratic and, therefore, irrelevant to the purposes of most interpersonal relations. As we shall see, spontaneous visual imagery has aversive properties both in an interpersonal relationship and in one’s private ruminations. In the former, it undercuts the self-protective function of security operations whereas in the latter it is a ready vehicle for the gratification of anxiety-producing unfulfilled needs and the depiction of repressed impulses.

Suggestibility and type of interpersonal relationship: Special implications for the patient-practitioner relationship

Abstract Suggestibility was assessed in five conditions by the subjects response to suggestions falsely labeled as matters of fact. These misrepresentations of fact, or virtual suggestions, denoted a variety of hallucinations, an anesthesia, and an amnesia. They were administered as incidental intrusions while the subject was involved in the primary experimental task. In three of these conditions, the subject either observed his own spontaneous visual imagery, observed visual scenes provided by the experimenter, or simply waited with closed eyes for the presentation of the virtual stimuli. These conditions were characterized by a passive-receptive, interpersonal relationship in which the subject remained silent. Suggestibility was expected to be high. In a fourth condition the subjects described spontaneous visual imagery. This was characterized as an active-receptive relationship in which speech was maintained throughout. The suggestibility of the three passive-receptive conditions was comparable, and none of them differed from a baseline condition involving the formal induction of hypnosis. However, the fourth, active-receptive condition was significantly lower, and this difference survived a replication. Of special interest was the induction of an anesthesia in the majority of subjects in the three passive-receptive conditions.

The significance of the interpersonal relationship in the induction of hypnosis.

Abstract Two experimental hypotheses were tested: (1) high susceptibility is dependent upon the presence of the hypnotist, and (2) high susceptibility is dependent upon the hypnotist being knowledgeable and competent. Three conditions, using a taped induction were compared: hypnotist present, university laboratory; hypnotist absent, university laboratory; surrogate, untrained hypnotist present, usually a roommate in his own domicile. Only the hypnotist absent, university laboratory condition was adversely affected which is consistent with those theories of induction which explicitly or implicity require the physical presence of the hypnotist.

Treatment Outcome in Relation to Visual Imagery, Suggestibility, Transference, and Creativity

The rapidly proliferating development of treatment procedures utilizing visual imagery is an index of the excitement being generated by its return from ostracism. This excitement is a welcome quickening of the pulse in the growing malaise of psychotherapy research. To wit, it does not make any difference what you do, just do it convincingly (Frank, 1979), and be enthusiastic (Shapiro and Morris, 1978). Simpler yet, just put everyone on a waiting list (Bergin and Lambert, 1978). Unfortunately, visual imagery methods are sufficiently varied as to obscure what it is about them that warrants the excitement and interest. To aid my own thinking, I have ordered these by classifying them into four disparate categories: guided imagery, behavior modification, active imagination and spontaneous visual imagery, which I call emergent uncovering psychotherapy. In guided imagery, the client is given standard scenes as stimuli with the purpose of symbolically addressing ignored parts of the self, archetypes and recurrent problems in living. By artful manipulation of the client’s imagery, these sources of emotional difficulty can be ameliorated or resolved symbolically. It is an absorbing, creative interaction between both participants. In behavior modification (systematic desensitization, implosive and flooding methods, modeling, rehearsal, covert conditioning), visual imagery is used as a means to interfere with undesirable stimulus-response or antecedent-consequent relationships.