AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -(B) Role theory explains that hypnosis works because people play the “role” of a hypnotized person. Highly suggestible people are more easily hypnotized and have richer fantasy lives. Dissociation theory explains that hypnosis works by actually dividing our consciousness.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hilgard‘s neo-dissociation theory of hypnosis is a classical « state theory ». He suggests that hypnotic phenomena are generated by dissociation within high-level control systems. Essentially, hypnotic induction is said to divide the functioning of the executive control system (ECS) into different flows.

Detailed explanation-3: -The key difference between the two explanations of hypnosis is this: Social influence theory says that hypnosis is a result of external social variables; divided consciousness theory says that hypnosis is the result of an exaggerated division of internal consciousness.

Detailed explanation-4: -Taking a different approach to explain hypnosis, the social-cognitive theory of hypnosis sees people in hypnotic states as performing the social role of a hypnotized person. As you will learn when you study social roles, people’s behavior can be shaped by their expectations of how they should act in a given situation.