Attitudes and beliefs about hypnosis: A multicultural study

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of having personal experience and information about hypnosis over the beliefs and attitudes toward hypnosis, using a sample of students from Spain, United States, Portugal and Romania. The factor structure of the Revised Valencia Scale of Attitudes and Beliefs toward Hypnosis-Client Version, as well as its psychometric properties are also analyzed. An exploratory factor analysis of the scale was conducted and an 8-factor model solution similar to the one found in other versions of this scale was obtained: Help, Personal Control, Magical Solution, Interest, Collaboration, Fear, Memory/Trance and Marginal. Results also indicated that participants who had previously experienced hypnosis and/or based their knowledge of hypnosis on scientific sources scored, in general, higher in factors indicating positive attitudes and correct beliefs about hypnosis. Copyright © 2008 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis.