Feasibility of Hypnosis on Performance in Air Rifle Shooting Competition. Issue 4 (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mattle, Sabrina; Birrer, Daniel; Elfering, Achim
• Is Part Of: International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis. Volume 68:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 521
• Page End: 529
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Hypnotism -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 615.8512
• DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2020.1799655
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7144

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of a single hypnosis intervention on shooting performance in a 10-meter air rifle competition. Eight shooting athletes from the Swiss national team participated in the experiment; an A-B-A single case study design was used, with 2 baseline measurements. The results suggest that for 3 athletes the hypnosis intervention had a small positive effect on their performance compared to all other measurements, 6 subjects had small improvements compared to 1 baseline measurement, and 2 subjects had a performance decrease. Data from the participants' subjective rating of the intervention effect and their satisfaction with it demonstrated feasibility and that all subjects experienced the hypnosis intervention as positive. Moreover, they commented that they felt calmer and more focused and self-confident when they began the competition. Therefore, it seems promising for shooting athletes to learn how to integrate hypnosis into their training regimens, but additional research is needed.