William J. Matthews

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in the treatment of test anxiety: A study of the effects of expectancy and eye movement

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a recently invented technique acclaimed as a major breakthrough for a range of anxiety-related symptoms. To determine the importance of the eye movement and expectancy variables, we conducted a one-hour session with 41 undergraduate subjects (11 males and 30 females) with test anxiety. A 2 (eye movement vs no eye movement) x 2 (high expectancy vs low expectancy) analysis of variance was performed on three dependent measures: (1) Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDs). (Wolpe, The Practice of Behavior Therapy, 1982); (2) Validity of Cognition Scale (VOC) (Shapiro, 1992); and (3) the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) (Spielberger, TestAnxiety Inventory Preliminary Professional Manual, 1977). The data indicate that all subjects, regardless of treatment condition, showed a significant decrease in anxiety on the TAI. Subjects in the eye-movement condition reported feeling less anxious (SUDs) than those in the no-eye-movement condition. We found no significant main effect or interactions for any of the dependent measures for expectancy.

Indirect Versus Direct Hypnotic Suggestions — An Initial Investigation: A Brief Communication

Abstract The clinical use of indirect hypnotic suggestion is purported to be an effective method of trance induction because it allows S a wider latitude of responsiveness than does a traditional hypnotic induction. In the present study, 15 male and 15 female Ss each received a traditional hypnotic induction followed by the Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale (SHCS) of Morgan and Hilgard (1978) and an Ericksonian hand levitation induction (Erickson, E. t. Rossi, & S. Rossi, 1976) followed by a rewritten SHCS, utilizing indirect suggestions for each scale item (Indirect Suggestion Scale-ISS). The results revealed no significant main effect differences between hypnotic methods on the behavioral response measure. Ss did report feeling more deeply hypnotized during the indirect hypnotic procedure. High hypnotizable male Ss felt more aware of the hypnotic suggestions and more in charge of their experience when they experienced ISS than they did on SHCS. This difference in self-reported experience may possibly be ...

Double hypnotic induction: an initial empirical test.

La double induction hypnotique peut avoir pour effet de diminuer les capacites de reponse aux inductions simples proposees ulterieurement

Ericksonian approaches to hypnosis and therapy: Where are we now?

Abstract Ericksonian approaches to psychotherapy and hypnosis have had a significant impact on many clinical practitioners over the last two decades. This article reviews the current empirical research with regard to the efficacy of these treatment approaches as well as for the key Ericksonian assumptions of: (a) belief in an altered state of consciousness and the existence of specific markers indicating an altered state; (b) the superiority of indirect suggestion over direct suggestion; and (c) client hypnotizability is a function of the hypnotists skill. The current literature provides empirical support neither for efficacy nor for these key assumptions. The article concludes with a discussion of the need for empirically based research to test the efficacy of Ericksonian therapy and its core components, lest this approach become isolated from the scientific hypnosis and therapy communities.

The Effects of a Computer-Assisted, Schema-Based Instruction Intervention on Word Problem-Solving Skills of Low-Performing Fifth Grade Students

This study examined the effects of computer-assisted, schema-based instruction on the problem-solving skills of fifth grade students with below average problem-solving skills. In a randomized controlled study, 16 students were given a 12-week intervention, and 16 control students received state test preparation review in their regular classroom. Results demonstrated that the computer-assisted, schema-based instruction group showed greater gains relative to the control group on items from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and greater rates of growth on biweekly examiner-made probes. However, no difference in gain scores between the groups was observed on the Process and Application subtest from the Group Mathematics Assessment and Diagnostic Evaluation. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Hypnotic Inductions with Deaf and Hearing Subjects – an Initial Comparison

17 volunteer deaf Ss were compared with 18 volunteer hearing Ss on the Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale (SHCS) of Morgan and J. R. Hilgard (1975), and the Indirect Suggestion Scale (ISS) of Matthews and Mosher (1985) in a 2 x 2 ANOVA design. 5 dependent measures: (a) objective scale score; (b) self-report scale score; (c) S rapport with the hypnotist; (d) S resistance to the hypnotist; and (e) overall subjective rating of trance experience were employed to measure any differences between the 2 groups. For SHCS behavioral items, the two-way ANOVA failed to reveal any significant main effect or interaction differences between either group (deaf/hearing) or method of induction (direct/indirect). There was a significant main effect for deaf/hearing groups in level of resistance to the hypnotist. Deaf Ss reported feeling more resistant to the hypnotist than did hearing Ss. This may be due to the mode of communication or the fact that the hypnotist was hearing. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

Working Hypnotically with Deaf People

Little attention has been given to the utilization of hypnosis with deaf people. In a recent study, we compared objective and subjective responses to two different hypnotic induction techniques by deaf and hearing undergraduate women. We presented hypnosis techniques orally to hearing subjects and visually, using sign-language, to deaf subjects. Results from this study failed to reveal any significant differences on objective or self-report levels of trance depth between the two populations. Our purpose in this article is to examine the similarities and differences of the induction process and hypnotic responses, including trance indicators, between deaf and hearing subjects.

Ericksonian and Milan Therapy: An Intersection Between Circular Questioning and Therapeutic Metaphor

Working systemically with a single client poses particular problems for the systemic therapist. The therapist needs to join with the individual client while remaining neutral to the family system which may be unavailable for direct observation. An integration, through a case example, of systemic family therapy and Ericksonian hypnotherapy is presented. The use of circular questioning in the absence of the family is discussed, as well as the relationship between circular questioning, diagnosis, treatment goals and therapeutic metaphor.

Empirical validation and the importance of testable theory: a paradigm shift in psychotherapy?

In response to the recent special issue of the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis (Vol. 54, No. 4, “Cognitive Hypnotherapy: Twenty Years Later”), this commentary discusses: (1) the weak connection between cognitive science and cognitive behavioral therapy, and (2) the importance of coherent and testable theoretical underpinnings to the practice of psychotherapy. The author briefly introduces Relational Frame Theory (RFT), which postulates that strategies to control, manage, or extinguish language based internal experience are unlikely to be successful. Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindful and acceptance based empirically supported approach to creating client psychological flexibility. ACT underpinned by RFT is suggestive of a paradigm shift in psychotherapy to a mindfulness and acceptance approach to internal experience.

Theories, perturbations, and testability: commentary on Fourie.

David Fourie has written a provocative and interesting article in which he argues that systemic hypnosis is qualitatively different than an Ericksonian conception and approach to hypnosis. He proceeds to demonstrate these differences with a description of systemic hypnosis via the use of anecdotes. In his exposition, he lays out a number of assumptions that underpin his argument. These assumptions are problematic and, as such, warrant closer scrutiny. Prior to considering Fourie’s argument for systemic hypnosis rather than an “Ericksonian” approach to hypnosis, we will need to consider the key notions of “objectivity,” “causality,” “perturbations,” “reality,” and notion of refutatbility in science. Fourie notes that by the early 1980’s systems thinking had moved from first order to second order cybernetics “. . .moving away from the focus on interaction pattern in families, as if these could be objectively (italics added) observed, toward a consideration of the functioning of systems as wholes.” He goes on to note that these second order systems can only do what its structure allows it to do and no causal influence of one system on another is possible. “Systems can only “perturb” one another and the reaction to this perturbation is determined by the structure of the perturbed system, not by actions of the perturbing system.” Concluding his summary of the basic tenets of second order thinking, Fourie goes on to say, “The behavior of systems can not be objectively observed, because by observing, the observer becomes part of the system and the observation is therefore cooperatively constructed by all the members of the system.” He cites the social constructivists, Von Foerster, Von Glasersfeld, Maturana, and Varela et al.