5

Dr Mark Griffiths Blog

Also in 1977, Dr. Richard Willard published a study in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. Using a slightly different technique to the previously published studies with a sample of 22 women (aged 19 to 54 years), Willard reported an average increase in breast size of nearly one and a half inches following a 12-week program. In this study, the women practiced self-hypnosis and visual imagery (rather than being hypnotized by a practitioner). Those who could best visualize their breasts getting bigger were the ones who showed the greatest increases in breast size. Other main findings reported were:

  • 85% reported a significant breast enlargement before they had been measured
  • 46% had to buy larger bras after the study
  • The average increase in breast circumference was 1.37 inches
  • The average increase in the vertical breast measurement was 0.67 inches
  • The average increase in horizontal breast measurement was 1.01 inches
  • Only two women who (subjectively) felt there was no significant increase, did (objectively) have a measurable increase in breast size

Is there any truth to this?

Christian
  • 33,271
  • 15
  • 112
  • 266
BaGi
  • 1,275
  • 3
  • 12
  • 24
  • 5
    And does it work for men? :) – Benjol Jun 13 '13 at 12:46
  • 1
    I found the paper that the quote [referred too](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029157.1977.10403875#.UbnAgfnImSc), and it was published in American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. I checked which papers cited it, and they all came from either that journal or what looked like pseudo-scientific books. It doesn't prove anything though. – Wertilq Jun 13 '13 at 12:54
  • 2
    I'm curious how they determined which test subjects were better at "visualizing" a mammary volume increase. Also, no control group, so no useful study. Shame. – Tim Pietzcker Jun 13 '13 at 15:06
  • @TimPietzcker "Three of the women received a hypnotic suggestion about breast size increase (i.e., to visualize larger breasts) whereas the other three were the control group and received no hypnotic suggestion." From the blog. They actually used a control group. – Wertilq Jun 13 '13 at 18:16
  • @Wertilq: Ah, OK. I'd still argue that a) three persons are not enough for a control group, b) hypnosis vs. non-hypnosis is not a viable control strategy. You'd need to do at least "real hypnosis" vs. "placebo hypnosis". – Tim Pietzcker Jun 14 '13 at 08:26
  • How do you do placebo hypnosis? It's self hypnosis that is taught to them, and they imagine their breasts growing, how do you do placebo version of that? – Wertilq Jun 14 '13 at 08:57
  • 1
    @Wertilq Let them imagine the breasts growing bigger from someone else? :p – Lyrion Jun 17 '13 at 08:22
  • 2
    @Benjol - I'm sure there's a study if looking at one's junk mail for 2 hours would work for men. – user5341 Jun 17 '13 at 13:45

0 Answers0