Suggestibility tests in hypnosis: what do they really show?
From magnetic fingers to balloons and bricks: six demonstrations you can try responsibly, why stage hypnotists use them, and why I rarely need them in the clinical therapy room.
An interesting response is not a promise of therapeutic success.
Have you ever held out two hands and imagined that one was carrying a heavy brick while the other was being lifted by a bunch of balloons? You may notice a little movement. You may not. Either way, it can be an interesting demonstration of what attention, imagination and expectation can do.
Suggestibility tests have been part of hypnosis teaching and performance for many years. They can be entertaining, sometimes rather surprising, and useful in research. But in my Solution Focused Hypnotherapy practice I rarely feel any need to test a client. The therapy is about their goals, not about achieving a score or performing on command.
In this article I'll explain what these tests actually demonstrate, give practical instructions for six familiar examples, look at the difference between stage and clinical hypnosis, and cover a step that is too easily overlooked: retraction—ending a temporary suggestion properly.
A note before you try anything: These are optional educational demonstrations, not diagnostic tests, medical procedures or a substitute for a formal hypnotisability assessment. Work with the person's informed agreement. Never restrain, startle, embarrass or pressure someone. A non-response is perfectly ordinary and should never be called failure.
What is a suggestibility test?
In everyday language, a suggestibility test is an invitation to experience something through imagination or expectation. You might imagine two hands being drawn together, a finger becoming lighter, or the sharp taste of a lemon. A person's attention, anticipation, tiny movements and subjective experience can all influence what happens.
The term suggestibility is broader than hypnotisability. Someone may respond to an imaginative suggestion while fully awake. Hypnotisability is usually studied using a defined hypnotic procedure and standardised suggestions. Informal demonstrations such as magnetic fingers are not the same as validated research scales, and they cannot establish how well a person will respond to therapy.
Researchers distinguish between a response occurring because of the imaginative instruction itself and any additional effect of a hypnotic induction. Studies by Irving Kirsch and Wayne Braffman found that response to suggestions outside hypnosis is strongly related to response during hypnosis. Expectancy and motivation also matter. That's a much more interesting picture than simply dividing people into those who can and cannot be hypnotised.
The American Psychological Association's Division 30 defines hypnotisability in terms of a person's capacity to experience suggested changes in sensation, thinking, feeling or behaviour during hypnosis. Research settings may use structured measures such as the Stanford scales or Harvard Group Scale to investigate this systematically. That is very different from asking somebody to imagine a pair of magnets for a minute.
Related reading: My article on hypnotic depth scales explains the Stanford and other historical approaches in greater detail, including why “depth” and “response” should not be treated as interchangeable.
Clinical hypnosis and stage hypnosis are not the same thing
The setting makes an enormous difference. A stage hypnotist is entertaining an audience and generally wants responses that are readily visible. A clinical hypnotherapist is working with somebody who has come for help, where the important outcomes are the client's own goals, comfort and choices.
The client's experience comes first
- A therapeutic relationship, assessment and agreed aims.
- Imagination and suggestions used collaboratively.
- Responses can be subtle and entirely private.
- No need to select people for dramatic reactions.
- Consent, boundaries, safeguarding and appropriate referral are central.
Visible, audience-facing responses
- Adult volunteers choose to participate.
- Quick group demonstrations may help identify responsive volunteers.
- Social expectations, humour and performer skill influence the show.
- Acts are staged for entertainment, not clinical outcomes.
- Public performances are subject to legal authorisation and conditions.
It is also worth remembering that hypnosis is not mind control. People do not simply hand their judgement to the hypnotist. The Royal College of Psychiatrists explains that a person remains able to reject suggestions, and that clinical hypnotherapy differs from what we see on stage.
Before trying a suggestibility demonstration
I much prefer to introduce these exercises as an exploration rather than a test. “Would you like to notice what imagination can do?” is a very different invitation from “Let's see whether you're hypnotisable.” That small change of language matters.
For a simple classroom demonstration, invite someone to keep their eyes open if they prefer, and choose an exercise they can comfortably stop at any time. Avoid demonstrations involving falls, swallowing unusual substances, forceful limb locking, pain, memory manipulation or supposedly irresistible commands. Do not use an exercise if it is unsuitable for someone's physical or mental health; seek appropriate supervision and safeguarding advice when working with vulnerable people.
Professional boundary: The examples below are teaching illustrations for consenting, comfortable participants. They are not instructions for conducting stage shows, formal hypnosis assessments or clinical treatment. No exercise is compulsory, including for children.
Six familiar suggestibility demonstrations, step by step
These are some of the prime examples you'll encounter in hypnosis teaching. I've included the words I might use to introduce each one, what you might observe and how to bring the suggestion to an end. They can be carried out gently without a hypnotic induction; the participant stays free to move or stop.
Magnetic fingers
A classic example of attention, expectation and small natural movements.
- Sit comfortably and loosely interlace the fingers of both hands.
- Extend the index fingers and leave a small gap between them, without straining.
- Invite the person to notice the space and picture a gentle magnetic pull.
- Allow 10–20 seconds; no pushing or forcing.
Notice: The fingers may gradually draw together through ordinary muscle relaxation and tiny movements. That does not demonstrate loss of control.
Retract: “Let the imagined magnets switch off now. Unlace your hands, move your fingers normally and let them rest comfortably.”
Magnetic hands
An invitation to experience movement without telling somebody they must move.
- Ask the seated participant to hold both hands comfortably in front, palms facing each other about 10–15 cm apart.
- Check that the shoulders are relaxed and the position is easy.
- Invite the image of a comfortable magnetic attraction, not a force.
- Observe for a few seconds and stop before the arms tire.
Notice: Some people move visibly; some experience only a sensation or none at all.
Retract: “The magnetic idea has finished. Move your hands apart freely, lower your arms and return to a comfortable position.”
Balloons and a brick
The familiar comparison that I sometimes use as a playful example, not a pass-or-fail assessment.
- While seated, if comfortable, invite the participant to hold both arms gently forward at a low, manageable height.
- Ask them to imagine one hand holding a heavy book or brick, and the other attached to light balloons.
- Keep the demonstration brief, around 10–15 seconds. Do not use real weights.
- Invite them to open their eyes, if closed, and notice any difference.
Notice: Relative movement may occur, but arm fatigue and normal postural changes also influence it.
Retract: “Put down the imaginary brick and untie the imaginary balloons. Both arms feel ordinary again; bend your elbows and rest them comfortably.”
Finger or hand lightness
A very gentle alternative for people who prefer to keep their arms supported.
- Have the participant rest both hands on their lap or a tabletop.
- Invite them to look at one finger or hand and imagine a fine ribbon gently lifting it.
- Allow a few moments for any voluntary or spontaneous-feeling movement.
- Stop whenever the participant wishes.
Notice: This explores attention and imagery, not a scientifically scored depth of hypnosis.
Retract: “The ribbon has been released. Rest the finger or hand naturally, and move it normally whenever you like.”
The imaginary lemon
Sensory imagery can sometimes produce a strikingly familiar response.
- Invite the person to imagine, rather than actually eat, a fresh lemon.
- Describe its colour, the smell of the peel and the idea of a small drop of sour juice.
- Ask if they notice a taste, mouth-watering or any other sensation.
- Keep it light; avoid it if sour imagery is unpleasant.
Notice: A sensory response can occur without hypnosis and is not a diagnostic indicator of hypnotisability.
Retract: “Let the lemon image fade away. Your mouth and taste return to normal. Notice the room around you again.”
The simple pendulum
A useful explanation of how attention can influence tiny movements.
- Use a light object on a short length of string, safely above a table.
- Rest the elbow on the table and hold the string lightly, with no swinging motion intended.
- Invite the person to picture the pendulum moving slowly from side to side.
- After a few seconds, notice any movement and finish the exercise.
Notice: Small, often unnoticed muscle movements can create movement. This is an ideomotor effect, not evidence of an outside force or special power.
Retract: “Stop imagining the movement, place the pendulum on the table and relax your hand. We're finished.”
What about the hand-clasp or “locked hands” test? It appears frequently in stage-hypnosis discussions, sometimes with the suggestion that the hands cannot separate. I don't favour it as an introductory clinical exercise. It can create pressure and embarrassment, especially if a person feels trapped. If discussed in professional training, I would explain the history and mechanics rather than turn it into a challenge.
There isn't a universal response to any of these. A person may enjoy a vivid image without any visible movement. Another may move a great deal because they are absorbed in the task. Neither result establishes how somebody will respond to a future therapeutic session.
What is retraction in hypnosis—and why does it matter?
In this context, retraction means clearly ending or withdrawing a temporary suggestion. You will also hear terms such as removing a suggestion, cancelling a demonstration or de-induction when a hypnosis session is being ended. These terms are related, but they are not identical: retracting one playful idea is different from ending a full hypnotic procedure.
Suppose you invite someone to imagine their fingers being drawn together. It's good practice to finish by telling them that the imaginary magnet has switched off and that their fingers can move normally again. If you've suggested that an arm feels heavy, let that heaviness go. If you've invited a particular taste or sensation, bring attention back to ordinary sensations.
A clear four-part retraction
If the person is unsettled, stop the demonstration, allow them to orient in their own time, and offer appropriate support. Don't insist they must feel relaxed or that a sensation has disappeared; ask and listen. If somebody remains distressed or experiences an unexpected reaction, follow your safeguarding or clinical procedures and seek appropriate medical advice where necessary.
In stage hypnosis, the performer has a responsibility to end the entertainment suggestions, restore ordinary orientation and ensure volunteers have safely disengaged. Public-performance conditions, consent and aftercare take priority over getting one last laugh.
In clinical hypnosis, an agreed therapeutic suggestion is not routinely “cancelled” at the end of every session; it may be intended as part of the client's continuing work. Temporary demonstrations, however, should still be ended explicitly. The distinction is purposeful, collaborative change versus a short-lived exercise.
How does stage hypnosis actually work?
Many people first encounter hypnosis on television or at a live show. Volunteers might appear to ride imaginary horses, forget a familiar name for a moment, or behave as though an onion tastes delicious. It's entertaining theatre, but it doesn't mean the performer has obtained unlimited control over their minds.
Stage hypnotists often work with a combination of volunteered participation, selection, expectations, social context, imaginative involvement and performance skill. The early tests are partly a practical way of finding people who respond quickly and visibly—and who are comfortable participating in front of an audience. Some performers use a formal induction; others rely heavily on suggestion and the circumstances of the show.
Adults volunteer, hear what participation involves and should be free to decline or withdraw.
Simple suggestions can reveal who is responding visibly and enjoys taking part.
The performer may invite suitable, willing participants to continue, rather than treating the whole audience alike.
Attention, expectation and an induction or other framing may encourage imaginative involvement.
Participants may act out harmless, amusing ideas; reactions differ and are not all alike.
Temporary suggestions are withdrawn, participants are reoriented and their wellbeing is checked.
The important thing to understand is that the audience has usually seen a selected group of volunteers, not a random sample of people. Someone who doesn't respond dramatically simply may not be featured. Audience participation, humour and expectations can shape what appears on stage.
There is also a legal difference. In England, Wales and Scotland, public stage-hypnotism performances for entertainment require appropriate local-authority authorisation under the Hypnotism Act 1952 and associated rules. Government guidance describes permit conditions and notes that public volunteers must be adults aged 18 or older. This does not mean that a private, consensual imagination exercise in a therapy training room is a stage show; the setting and purpose matter.
Not a licence to imitate a stage act: The procedures in this educational article are deliberately limited to gentle, voluntary demonstrations. A public performance requires its own legal, safety, insurance, age and venue checks. Always consult the local authority before planning one.
Why I generally don't use suggestibility tests in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
In my own practice, a client's time is better spent talking about what they want to be different, noticing what is already going well and building towards the next small step. A test that produces a dramatic hand movement is not the aim of the session.
I also don't want someone leaving their first appointment thinking, “My fingers didn't move, so hypnosis won't work for me.” That's not a conclusion we can draw from a simple demonstration. Expectations can influence experience, and I would rather make a person feel informed and respected than give them a label they don't need.
In the hypnotic part of a session, I may use guided relaxation, focused attention, imagery and suggestions connected to the client's agreed goals. Some people feel deeply relaxed; others remain aware of every word. Relaxation is common, but it isn't the sole definition of hypnosis, and a dramatic trance state is not a prerequisite for all therapeutic work.
We may use the language of the conscious and unconscious mind as a helpful metaphor when explaining how familiar habits can feel automatic. I would not present those as two literally separate brains that must physically come together. What matters is that the person understands the process and retains their own choice.
Clinical hypnosis also has limits. It doesn't guarantee a particular outcome, nor is it appropriate for everyone. I take the person's health history, presenting concerns and treatment needs into account, and I work within my scope of competence, seeking appropriate advice or referral where necessary.
For further background, you may enjoy my article on direct and indirect hypnotic suggestions, or the explanation of the critical faculty. These are connected ideas, but each deserves its own explanation.
What about children?
Young people can be wonderfully imaginative. An age-appropriate exercise about balloons or lightness can occasionally help begin a conversation. But it should be optional, supported by appropriate parental consent, safeguarding and the child's own agreement. The purpose is curiosity and comfort, not measuring or trying to prove their susceptibility. I would never treat a child as a miniature stage volunteer or label a lack of movement as failure.
Four misconceptions worth leaving behind
“A response proves hypnosis”
Not necessarily. Many ideomotor or imaginative responses occur without an induction.
“No movement means failure”
Not at all. An informal demonstration is not a formal assessment of hypnotic responsiveness.
“Stage hypnosis is just mind control”
Volunteer selection, motivation, social setting, suggestion and entertainment all contribute.
“You must be in a deep trance to benefit”
Therapeutic suitability and outcomes cannot be reduced to a single depth score or visible reaction.
Frequently asked questions
What is a suggestibility test in hypnosis?
It is a demonstration or assessment that explores how a person responds to suggestions about movement, sensation, perception or imagination. Informal exercises are not equivalent to validated research scales.
Can you fail a suggestibility test?
An informal demonstration should not be treated as pass or fail. If fingers or hands don't move, it doesn't mean someone cannot be hypnotised or cannot benefit from appropriate therapy.
What is the easiest suggestibility demonstration for beginners?
Magnetic fingers is a familiar seated example because it is brief and easily stopped. Explain that natural muscle tension and small movements can play a part. Obtain agreement and finish by releasing the suggestion.
Do you need a hypnotic induction to try these exercises?
No. Imaginative and ideomotor responses can occur without a hypnotic induction. Formal hypnotisability research usually uses defined, standardised procedures.
What does retracting a suggestion mean?
Retraction means explicitly ending a temporary suggestion, restoring ordinary movement or sensations, reorienting attention and checking that the person is comfortable. It is good practice after demonstrations.
How do stage hypnotists choose volunteers?
Stage hypnotists may invite consenting adult volunteers to try group suggestions and continue with those who respond visibly and wish to participate. The resulting show is not a representative measure of how hypnosis works for everyone.
Does a stage hypnotist control the volunteer's mind?
No. Stage hypnosis involves suggestion, expectation, participation and performance context; it does not give unrestricted control over another person's choices.
Are suggestibility tests needed in clinical hypnotherapy?
Not routinely. They may be used for particular educational or research purposes, but in my Solution Focused Hypnotherapy practice I generally prefer to concentrate on the client's aims and agreed therapeutic work.
Research and guidance
These sources support the broad explanations; the six informal exercises are educational illustrations, not a newly validated testing protocol.
- Society of Psychological Hypnosis (APA Division 30) — definition of hypnosis and hypnotisability.
- Kirsch, I. (1997), Suggestibility or hypnosis: what do our scales really measure? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
- Braffman, W. & Kirsch, I. (1999), Imaginative suggestibility and hypnotizability: an empirical analysis, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — hypnosis and hypnotherapy, including limitations and participant control.
- GOV.UK — public stage-hypnotism permit requirements and conditions.
- Hypnotism Act 1952 — UK legislation covering public hypnotism demonstrations.
- How hypnotic suggestions work (2024) — systematic review discussing induction, suggestions and termination.
In therapy, you don't have to perform.
Clinical work should be about your goals, your comfort and what matters to you. If you'd like to explore how I work, you're welcome to arrange a free initial conversation.