Does Hypnosis Aid Memory Retrieval?: A Review of Steven Jay Lynn's Research

Abstract

Steven Jay Lynn was one of the most prolific clinical psychologists who made major contributions to the scientific literature in numerous areas, including in the area of hypnosis and memory. We review this work, limited to studies appearing in empirical journals, with special emphasis on research methodology. Hypnosis did not enhance accurate recall in any study and in some cases impeded recall. In numerous studies, hypnosis increased recall of never-experienced events; this recall persisted over time, and participants were at least moderately confident in their recall of these never-experienced events. We discuss the branching off of this work into the courts and psychotherapy.

Keywords: Clinical hypnosis; Steven Jay Lynn; forensic hypnosis; hypnosis; hypnosis and memory; memory.