Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Ehsan Shahsavari Shirazi ¹
• Manijeh Shehniyailagh ²
• Alireza Hajiyakhchali ³

¹ MA of Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

² professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

³ Associate professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction
Self-hypnosis is simply a focused state of mindfulness that allows one to make the most of their mental capacities and abilities. In a final analysis, self - hypnosis is practically a tool that can be used to make better use of skills or techniques of self - control. All forms of hypnosis are actually self-hypnosis. Even in so-called hypnotic situations, it is the client who hypnotizes himself, another person, usually called a hypnotherapist, provides the right conditions and guides the client to the hypnotic trance. Self- hypnosis is a way in which people can focus on their mental content and use their imagination, mental imagery and thoughts to evoke certain emotions so that they can finally make changes in their behaviors and attitudes. In other words, in a state of hypnotic ecstasy, the person can change their inner world. Feelings, perceptions, and behaviors also change when a person is able to change their thoughts and their visual imagery that they normally engage with. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of self-hypnosis on attention and the pattern of electroencephalography in candidates for university entrance examination.

Method
The statistical population was all the clients who referred to the Mr. Karami counseling center in Shiraz, in 2019. The statistical sample consisted of 24 male students between 18 to 20 years old, who were selected from the counseling center using targeted sampling method. Then they were assigned into two groups of control (12 persons) and experimental group (12 persons) randomly. Research tools were Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Stroop Effect Test and Electroencephalography recorder. 10 self-hypnosis sessions for each subject in experimental group were done, over two weeks. During the interventions of experimental group, the control group was under the passage of time. In post-test, both groups were compared in terms of attention and Electroencephalographic patterns. The statistical data analysis was performed using the analysis of covariance at p < 0.05. SPSS software was used for data analysis.
Results
The results of pre-test and post-test comparison showed that the effects of intervention on experimental group were significant. Therefore, it seems that self-hypnosis affects attention and the pattern of electroencephalography in candidates for university entrance examination.

Discussion
Due to the effectiveness of self-hypnosis on attention and the pattern of electroencephalography in candidates for university entrance examination, self-hypnosis can be used in entrance exam preparation centers to improve the attention of candidates

Keywords

• Self-hypnosis
• Electroencephalography
• Stroop Effect
• Attention