Hypnotic Suggestibility Tests are commonly used in Hypnotic Stage Shows or Street Hypnosis as a way of finding out just how likely other people are to follow your suggestions. It is literally a series of commands and instructions that have a clearly visible display in the other person. By running through these tests with a group of people, as they do in Hypnotic Stage Shows, you will be able to quickly see who the most suggestible people are in the room. It is rare that these tests would be used in a Therapy session, although they may be useful if

As with any hypnosis, suggestibility tests themselves will normally work much better when they are pre-framed by the Hypnotist. Giving a strong reason for doing the suggestibility test before you start will normally lead to better results. An example of a pre-frame script if you were trying this with friends could be:

Hey, my friend was telling me about this thing where at some level everyone responds to suggestions from the people around them. He told me about this suggestibility test thing where basically you close your eyes and I ask you to use your imagination and it gives an insight into how suggestible you are, or you aren’t. Would you like to give it a go?

If they say yes at this point then continue. Otherwise find yourself a more adventurous friend to try this with. Once you have their permission then you would go straight into one of the tests below.

The Finger Vice

This is one of my favorite suggestibility tests. You can tell how suggestible they are by how quickly their fingers move together. As you run through the script it is a good idea to demonstrate the movements you want from them by doing it yourself.

The script you would use would go something like this:

Please take both your hands and interlace them together firmly like a fist. Now keep your hands in the fist, but have your index fingers outstretched. Keep your fists tightly together and your index fingers about an inch apart. Now what I want you to do is imagine a vice squeezing your index fingers. Imagine a vice pushing in on your index fingers and pushing your fingers together now (And at this point I would be making squeaky noises like I am doing up a vice). Tighter and tighter, really feel the pressure of the vice bringing your fingers together. That’s right.

And that is it! Some people who are really suggestible will have their fingers pressed firmly together from the start. Other people may not have moved their fingers at all. How far they have moved their fingers is your indication of how suggestible they are (The more the better).

The Dictionary/Balloon

This is a common suggestibility test that provides really obvious visual feedback and is good if you are working with a bigger group. You can tell how suggestible they are by noticing how far apart their arms are when you are finished. As with the previous test, if you demonstrate the arms as you do it then they will find it easier to do the right thing.

The script goes something like this:

When you are ready, hold both arms straight out in front of you. Now turn your right hand so it is palm facing down, and your left hand so it is palm facing up. Now close your eyes and imagine as brightly and as clearly as you can a big bright balloon tied by a string to your right wrist. The balloon is pulling your wrist up, higher and higher it is pulling your wrist up. But wait, imagine in your left hand a heavy, heavy, big, fat dictionary. And as you vividly imagine the big heavy dictionary in your left hand feel how heavy and tiresome it is to hold. But the balloon, the balloon on your right wrist is feeling lighter and lighter, pulling your wrist higher and higher… while the dictionary is getting heavier and heavier. And when you’re ready, without moving your arms, open your eyes.

Once again, that is it! Their arms will show who is more suggestible, and those who are less open to your suggestions.

See it in Action

This is an amateur video I found on YouTube of someone doing a basic suggestibility test in their back yard. It is worth watching as it gives you an idea of how easily and quickly this can be done:

What’s next?

You know all you need to know! Go and give it a go with your friends and enjoy the results.

Related posts:

1. Using a Yes Set A “yes set” is an agreement frame that is used...