Retroactive Inhibition and Hypnosis

Towards a Social Learning Theory of Hypnosis

“…Contrary to the Knox, et al (1975) results, interference between the two tasks was no greater when one was dissociated than when both tasks were consciously performed, possibly because the dissociated task used by Bowers and Brenman was easier than that used by Knox, et al (1975). Mitchell (1932) found the recall of material learned in the waking state to be impaired (retroactive inhibition) by material subsequently learned under hypnosis, and then dissociated by means of posthypnotic amnesia. Other researchers (Nagge, 1935;Orne, 1966;Graham & Patton, 1968) employing experimental procedures similar to Mitchell's also have found evidence of retroactive inhibition despite posthypnotic amnesia.…”

Hypnotic recall of material learned under anxiety- and non-anxiety-producing conditions.

“…But since there was no hypnotic hypermnesia in either case, hypnosis could not have any effect on retroactive inhibition. Finally, Mitchell (8) has shown that material which has suffered a considerable amount of retroactive inhibition is recovered no better in the trance than in the waking state.…”

An Empirically-Based Formulation of Hypnotism

“…The "amnesia" that can be elicited by suggestions in a hypnotic experiment is by no means the same as actual forgetting. For example, the "forgotten" material (a) exerts the same objective effects (such as practice effects or retroactive inhibition effects) as material that is clearly remembered and (b) is readily verbalized by the subject when he is given explicit or implicit permission to do so (Barber, 1962b;Barber and Calverley, 1966b;Graham and Patton, 1968;Mitchell, 1932;Patten, 1932 ;Sturrock, 1966;Thorne, 1967).…”