On the Organisation of Turn-Taking for Deep Hypnosis

Abstract

Research indicates that professionals have been unable to agree on what hypnosis is, and on how it should be studied. In an effort to solve this problem, some researchers have called for the investigation of the interaction between the parties (i.e., the hypnotist and the subject). Others have constructively cautioned that further research with highly accomplished hypnotic subjects is essential. However, to date no studies have examined actual talk-in-interaction during deep hypnosis – that is, between the hypnotist and the highly accomplished hypnotic subject. Drawing on conversation analysis (CA), this study examines talk-in-interaction during deep hypnosis. This examination focuses on the ways in which the participants organise taking turns to talk, while the client remains deeply hypnotised.