Suggestion Formulation & Delivery Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of using the word 'every' in a suggestion such as 'Every time you hear music, you feel calm'?

Answer: To create a universal trigger response

Universal quantifiers like 'every' generalize the conditioned response across all relevant contexts.

Which suggestion structure uses the client's own resistance as a vehicle for change?

Answer: Paradoxical suggestion

Paradoxical suggestions reframe resistance so that acting against the suggestion still produces the desired outcome.

When delivering an ideomotor suggestion, the hypnotist should speak at a pace that is:

Answer: Matched to the client's observed breathing rate

Pacing delivery to the client's breathing rate synchronizes communication with their physiological state.

A suggestion that begins 'You may find that...' is best classified as:

Answer: Permissive indirect suggestion

'You may find that...' invites rather than commands, making it a permissive indirect suggestion.

Why is it important to avoid double negatives in hypnotic suggestions?

Answer: The unconscious mind processes negatives poorly and may reverse meaning

The unconscious often ignores negation, so double negatives can produce unintended meanings.

In Ericksonian hypnosis, an 'embedded command' is best described as:

Answer: A suggestion hidden inside a longer sentence, marked by tonal emphasis

Embedded commands are directives embedded within normal conversation and marked by subtle tonal shifts.

Which factor most affects whether a post-hypnotic suggestion will persist over time?

Answer: Repetition and reinforcement across sessions

Repeated reinforcement across multiple sessions strengthens and prolongs post-hypnotic effects.