Pete attends his young cousin’s birthday party. At this party, a hypnotist is making the kids act like barnyard animals. Pete tu
rns to his aunt and says, "Please! They are just acting this way because they think they are supposed to." Pete’s statement is most consistent with the ______ theory of hypnosis.
The sociocognitive theory of hypnosis considers the actions as goal-directed. The people under hypnosis act in accordance with what is expected from them. The actions are done from the point of view of the person. Even though the actions of the people are involuntary their behaviors are goal-driven. The goals are set by the person themselves.
Here, Pete says that it is the goal of the people themselves to act like barn animals and so they act accordingly.
Hence, the statement is referring to the sociocognitive theory of hypnosis.
