Visual imaginative synchrony

Abstract

This research examines the concordance process of the visual modality of imaginative activity experienced by interactional partners, the Visual Imaginative Synchrony (VIS). It is proposed that VIS is an interactional synchrony phenomenon which involves a natural form of interpersonal adjustment, involving a harmonizing of imaginative activity which is identifiable by an external observer. Here VIS has been applied in the hypnotic as well as in the waking state. Stimulus words were obtained from a standardized process, and a VIS test applying a combination of drawing and description was developed. This was completed by the participants of the dyads after each of 5 stimulus words. We defined VIS values by the evaluation of the dyads' VIS tests by independent raters. Here we present the results from standardized hypnosis and waking contexts, as well as the relationship of VIS with psychological criteria measured with other tests: Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), Archaic Involvement Measure (AIM), Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), Dyadic Interaction Harmony Questionnaire (DIH), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). Based on the results we identify a new interactional synchronization phenomenon which can be reliably measured in both waking and hypnotic states. Copyright © 2009 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.