hidden observer

an intrapsychic entity with awareness of experiences that occur outside of an individual’s consciousness, hypothesized to explain the dissociative phenomenon in which a hypnotized person who has been told to block certain stimuli (e.g., pain induced by ice-cold water) still registers the blocked sensation via hand signals even while verbally denying it. It is as if a dissociated observer is registering the stimuli that the hypnotized person has successfully blocked. Posthypnotically, such individuals may recall auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli to which they appeared oblivious at the time. See also neodissociation theory. [investigated by Ernest R. Hilgard]

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Psychology term of the day

February 25th 2025

perspective

1. the ability to view objects, events, and ideas in realistic proportions and relationships.

2. the ability to interpret relative position, size, and distance of objects in a plane surface as if they were three-dimensional.

3. the capacity of an individual to take into account and potentially understand the perceptions, attitudes, or behaviors of himself or herself and of other individuals.

4. a particular way of looking at events or situations: a stance or philosophical position.