Fear of hypnosis: the role of labeling in patients' acceptance of behavioral interventions

Although increasing numbers of physicians, dentists, and health-care professionals employ hypnosis and relaxation techniques to control pain and reduce anxiety, clinicians have reported that many lay people are reluctant to engage in such procedures (Redd, Rosenberger, & Hendler, 1982). This reluctance may be, in part, due to negative attitudes shaped by the popular press. The media have often associated hypnosis with magic or the super- natural, overdramatized its effects, and characterized the hypnotized indi- vidual as dependent and vulnerable. It is unclear whether these negative attitudes are in response to the actual procedure or to the label used to identify it. The aims of the research reported here were: (a) to assess cancer patients' attitudes toward hypnosis and relaxation procedures used to control chemotherapy side effects, (b) to determine the role of procedural labels on patients' beliefs in and their willingness to use the behavioral procedure; and (c) to compare cancer patients' attitudes toward hypnosis with those of undergraduate students.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. (master's)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Hendler, Cobie Susan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Redd, William H.

• hypnotism
• behavior modification

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98467

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98467