The nature of task interference in hypnotic dissociation: An investigation of hypnotic behavior

Ss were 15 highly hypnotizable college students capable of performing a manual task (key-pressing according to a simple pattern) following a posthypnotic signal, with the task out of awareness ("subconscious"). The "subconscious" task was sometimes performed alone, while S was presumably resting, and sometimes simultaneously with color-naming, always "conscious." Control conditions included "conscious" key-pressing, both alone and simultaneous with colornaming. Most of the effects were in errors in key-pressing beyond those in the "conscious" condition alone: when "conscious" pressing was attempted simultaneously with color-naming; equally when "subconsciousJ' key-pressing w s performed alone; by a greater amount when performed "subconsciously" with color-naming. Maintaining dkociation apparently requires cognitive dort, hence adding to task interference. Individual differences were noted in departures from the average findings, with no evidence for performances of any Ss improved substantially by hypnotic dissociation.