About Division 30 of the

American Psychological Association

Division 30 brings together psychologists and other professionals interested in scientific and applied hypnosis. Our mission is to educate the profession and the public, to develop new and innovative clinical interventions and research methods, and to evaluate current treatment approaches. These activities advance our knowledge about basic psychological processes and foster practices designed to improve human well being. Division 30 encourages research into the area of hypnosis and develops regional and national continuing education workshops on clinical applications of hypnosis. The Division publishes Psychological Hypnosis: A Bulletin of Division 30 three times a year. The Division sponsors awards for outstanding contributions to scientific and clinical hypnosis.

The Official Division 30 Definition and Description of Hypnosis

In 2014, the Division 30 Executive Committee prepared the following official definitions related to hypnosis:

Hypnosis: A state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion.

Hypnotic induction: A procedure designed to induce hypnosis.

Hypnotizability: An individual’s ability to experience suggested alterations in physiology, sensations, emotions, thoughts, or behavior during hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy: The use of hypnosis in the treatment of a medical or psychological disorder or concern.

While there are substantial variations in theoretical understanding of these phenomena, the above definitions were created with an interest in simplifying communication regarding hypnotic phenomena and procedures within and between fields of research and practice, and so are intentionally largely atheoretical. This page will be updated to include additional discussion of the theoretical perspectives which allow greater insight into the nature and functioning of hypnosis.

Hiro Koo Kian Yong is one of the associate members of American Psychological Association (APA) Division 30 - The Society of Psychological Hypnosis (Membership #: 59610305).