Measuring hypnotic responsiveness: A comparison of the barber suggestibility scale and the stanford hypnotic susceptibility scale, form a

The Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) were administered, under both imagination and hypnotic-induction instructions, to 2 samples of 40 high-school students. The 2 scales were sufficiently correlated (.62 to .78, for objective and subjective scores) to indicate that, in general, they measure responses in the same broad domain. There is, however, a greater discrepancy between objective and subjective scores on the BSS than on the SHSS:A. The subjective scores are not independent of the objective scores, but correct the objective scores for pressure toward social compliance. Both scales are satisfactory for preliminary S-selection but limited as criteria for the range of hypnotic responsiveness.