On Sat, 19 Feb 2000, Michael Sylvester wrote:
> while on this, did MTO [Martin Orne] coined the term "hidden
observer"?
No, it was Ernest Hilgard. Although I don't recall anything specific,
I imagine Orne would not accepted such a construct. Here's
a description from "What is hypnosis" at
http://www.fit-co.com/whathyp.htm
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Neodissasociation Theory: (Hilgard; 1986)
Hilgard developed this theory based on earlier work of the French
Psychiatrist Pierre Janet (1856-1947). Neodissasociation theory
proposes a hierarchy of cognitive systems, each dissociated from each
other, but under the control of an 'executive ego'. Hilgard (1991)
suggests that the cognitive systems are similar to "schema" as
described by Bartlett (1932) in his theories of memory encoding and
retrieval. The facilitation of a 'hypnotic trance state' can
influence and change the executive functions (via suggestion) and
alter the hierarchical arrangements of the substructures. Hilgard
believes that this is what takes place when motor controls,
perceptions and memory are changed. Under hypnotic influence, the
hypnotist can repress normally available conscious experience and make
normally repressed processes more accessible. This effect has been
demonstrated experimentally by Hilgard, with what is known as the
'hidden observer effect'. Hilgard's theory supports the state theory
construct in the state Vs. non-state argument, ie. hypnosis is a
different state of consciousness from our normal waking state, and one
that is induced via the hypnotic induction process.
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