Abstract

Compared 3 methods of hypnotic manipulation of motivation for their effects on ESP performance. Each method was administered to 30 undergraduates in 3 equal groups. Ss in Group 1 received hypnotic suggestions inducing them to believe that ESP existed, that they (the Ss) had ESP, and that they wanted to and would use their ESP to obtain a high level of success in a card -calling task. Ss in Groups 2 and 3 received the same suggestions and were also promised a reward of $100 for particularly high scores. For Group 2, the stipulation was made that the $100 reward had to be used for selfish purposes; Group 3 received the stipulation that the money had to be used altruistically. The Group 1 treatment resulted in a significantly positive increase in scoring from the waking sessions to the hypnosis sessions; the treatment for Group 2 (selfishly motivated Ss) was without effect; and the Group 3 treatment (altruistically motivated Ss) gave a significant drop in scoring between the 2 sessions. Implications for 2 theoretical explanations of the hypnosis-psi relationship are discussed.