Behavioral persistence in carrying out a posthypnotic suggestion beyond the hypnotic context: a consideration of the role of perceived demand characteristics.

Compliance with a posthypnotic suggestion (PHS) to carry out a specific behavior in a subsequent nonhypnotic setting was investigated in high and medium hypnotizable participants. The target behavior--solicited by either a PHS given during hypnosis, a waking social request, or both--was to be performed daily for an unspecified period of time. Findings indicated that the waking request alone yielded a high level of compliance, particularly among medium hypnotizable participants.