The examination of suggestibility in the nervous, by L. Schnyder, 1905

Reading report published in the Journal of Normal and Pathological Psychology, Volume II, 1905, p. 175.   See the original in Gallica

in: Clinical studies on neuroses
(110) — The examination of suggestibility in the nervous, by L. Schnyder (Berne). Archives of Psychology, vol. IV, No. 13, August 1904.

S. announces to his nervous patients that he is going to measure their “sensitivity electric”. He makes them sit in a natural pose, recommends to close their eyes, then put two metal rings on their fingers connected by wires to a broken device. S. then makes a few movements with the controller and asks the subject to describe the impressions he feels. The answers, carefully noted in two hundred and three subjects, and brought together are the subject of the observations made by S.

More than half of those examined, or exactly fifty-four percent, succumbed to the trap set for them. A lot belong to the category of neurasthenics; placed in front of the device, these patients, in fact, are not distracted like the obsessed or patients with phobias. They are interested in the examination, follow it attentively, and are ready to report and amplify the slightest sensations. They will thus describe, for example, impressions of shrinkage, cold, a numbness that spreads to the wrist, goes up the arm, invades the entire body and paralyzes it.

The hysteric, on the contrary, does not take the examination seriously. His indifference is often absolute, and his very demonstrations of fear have something artificial and theatrical.

In the severe hypochondriac and the melancholic, the result of the examination is still negative, in most cases. The patient welcomes the experience with skepticism; he is sure in advance that it will only be one more proof of his incurability. And he is thus the victim of negative autosuggestion.

S. shows in conclusion how the process he used, true individual psychology test, can still be useful from a point of view curative. The doctor revealing in due time to the patient the trap in which he has fallen, he will be better aware of his mental illogic and will more readily understand the need to strengthen control within itself reasonable.

J. PAULHAN.