Date of Award
Fall 12-1-2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Michael J. Murphy
Second Advisor
June Sprock
Third Advisor
Virgil Sheets
Abstract
Although sport psychologists may utilize numerous hypnotic interventions and techniques intended to enhance the performance of athletes, many of these interventions have not been examined by systematic research. This exploratory study examined the effects of interventions using imagery and imagery plus hypnosis on the performance of track athletes. Twenty-nine students from a Midwestern high school track team were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: a) imagery and hypnosis or b) an imagery only group. Track team members at another high school served as the control group. The athletes in each group had their performance examined at track meets prior to the intervention and again following the intervention in their respective track events. Hypnotic susceptibility was also examined as a moderating variable in the treatment conditions. 111 It was hypothesized that individuals receiving the hypnosis-imagery intervention would demonstrate more improved performance than individuals receiving imagery alone and that both treatment groups would perform better than the control group. It was further anticipated that individuals with greater hypnotic susceptibility would demonstrate greater performance enhancement. Finally, it was hypothesized that women would demonstrate the greatest improvement in their performance given that previous studies had demonstrated that females had greater hypnotic susceptibility than males. No significant main effects were found for treatment group, gender, or the prepost intervention. No significant interactions were found. When hypnotic susceptibility was examined as a covariate, the subjects in the imagery group were found to have significantly greater performance enhancement. Implications and directions for future studies are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Mossey, Johnathan C., "The Effects of Hypnosis and Guided Imagery on The Performance of Track Athletes" (2003). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3557.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/3557