What are the characteristics of someone who is easily hypnotizable?

Answer 1

Someone who wants to experience hypnosis is most likely to be hypnotized! You can not be hypnotized against your will - you have to be motivated to try it.

The most responsive people are usually of above average intelligence; have good powers of concentration, and are generally able to become deeply absorbed in tasks such as reading. Highly hypnotizable people tend to have strong imaginative and creative capabilities, and are always able and willing to follow instructions. It is also important to be able to suspend critical judgement, and do as asked without questioning or analyzing everything.

People who regularly "dissociate" (eg frequent "daydreamers"), and/ or those who regularly experience "lucid dreams" (ie dreams during which you're aware of the fact you're dreaming, and where sometimes you can even "shape" your dreams), or hypnapompic and hypnogogic episodes when falling asleep and waking are usually extremely responsive to hypnosis, as are those who had imaginary friends in chilhood.

Generally, if someone wants to be hypnotized, and is prepared uncritically to follow instructions, then they can enter hypnosis. The degree of hypnosis attained will, however, vary considerably from person to person - some are a lot better at it than others. Highly critical, "controlling" types, are not good candidates, and those low on willingness to trust are similarly inhibited.

The "Eye Roll Test" is reckoned to be a fairly reliable indicator of "hypnotizability", although some contest this. IMHO, however, anyone willing to "take the test" is already signalling a degree of interest in experiencing hypnosis liable to make them responsive, and those able to roll their eyes right up into their heads so only the whites are showing, and maintain this easily, do tend to be readily hypnotizable.

Answer 2

Easily hypnotizable people tend to be...

1.) of above average intelligence;

2.) have good ability to concentrate;

3.) willing and able to follow instructions;

4.) imaginative and creative;

5.) able to suspend critical judgement;

6.) willing to trust and "let go";

7.) interested in the human mind;

8.) curious and intuitive;

9.) psychologically stable and confident;

10.) playful.

Last, but not least, be interested in being hypnotized, and be willing to cooperate with the hypnotist.