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Show THE Yf rn DAILY UTAH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1979 OCLE THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Performance under stress improves By Gretchen Legler Chronicle Senior Reporter Hypnosis significantly improves the ability of an athlete to perform under stress, according to Dr. Keith Henschen of the College of Health Sciences. Henschen and doctoral student Jerry DeMers used 51 volunteer students during 1978 and 1979 in a research program designed to determine what type of influence hypnosis has on a fine motor skill. Most of the volunteers were not athletes. They were just "normal students," according to Henschen. They were divided into control and experimental groups. The ability of each individual to follow a pursuit rotor with his hand was measured and recorded. A pursuit rotor is a disc that spins at 60 mph. Following the motor skill pretests, the students in the experimental group were hypnotized; the students in the control group were not. Both groups then received a electric shock to simulate anxiety or stress. After the shocks, both groups' motor skills were again tested. The tests showed that the hypnotized volunteers had little trouble matching their previous scores. "They ignored the stress," Henschen said. The control group performed badly in the second test, in some cases scoring lower than in the previous tests. "The individuals who make the least amount of errors (in competition) are the best performers," Henschen said. An athlete can low-volta- practice and practice, but still fail in competition because he cannot control his emotions and his ability to concentrate on his motor skills, he said. Hypnosis is an excellent tool for relief of stress for personal use and for use on athletic teams, Henschen said. For a long time, coaches have thought that "psyching" their teams up with noise and rough talk was the way to prepare athletes for a game, Henschen said. "That's erroneous. They need to reduce tension rather than increase it. He chastised some coaches for steeping their programs in the "physical aspect." "Most contests aren't won by the strong man anymore," he said, "but by the best prepared." He cited the basketball teams in the Special Events Center as an example. "It's a wonder they can control themselves," he said, while surrounded by a roaring crowd, hot lights and jumping cheerleaders. He said the Utes don't have the super power that teams like New Mexico and Las Vegas have, but that they are "always in control," because of their ability to concentrate on their bodies. point of concentration, while Cooper Progressive coaches, however, are interested in hypnosis, according to Henschen, along with many dentists and doctors, who hypnotize their patients rather than sedate them with anesthesia. Marathon runners, who experience an inherent pain during endurance competitions, also hypnotize themselves in a way, according to Henschen. He said that by not concentrating on the pain of running, but on iiTO(0)irD By Holly Mullen-Gree- n Chronicle Assistant News Editor Interest in the women's movement is increasing among Mormon women, although they manifest that interest in different ways, according to three panelists who participated in a workshop during "Relationships II", the Women's Resource Center's fall conference. Marilyn Wareriski, author; Jill Mulvay Derr, LDS Church Historian; and Sonia Johnson, Chairwoman of Mormons for ERA, addressed Mormon and feminist issues in a workshop entitled Mormon Wlomem-Thre- e Perspectives. "This has been a most interesting year," said Warenski,' who authored Patriarchs and The Plight of the Mormon Woman. "Mormons and nonMormons alike have taken an interest in my book," she said. Though she is no longer a member of the LDS Church, Warenski said "Mormonism is a part of my heritage," and therefore wrote her book from an "insideroutsider" point of view. "I became aware of early Mormon history when I took a job at the State Historical Society in the 1960s," Warenski said. "Although 19th century Mormon women were strong, resourceful and truly remarkable women, they were not feminists," she said. "Suffragettes yes, but not feminists." "Brigham Young is idealized in the Mormon church for being rights, but I believe some important points were left out which have distorted the picture," Warenski said. pro-women- 's "Young was a leader who directed women into activities for the benefit of the Kingdom, but he was not a woman's man. He spoke a.m. Coffee and Poliiics, Alice Shearer and Jo Brandt, candidates for City Council District Five, OSH 255. 11 a.m. Undergraduate Fuels seminar, Safety in Petroleum Refineries, Robert Moss, Chevron, USA, W.C. Browning 207. 11 a.m. Mining seminar, The Act, (new mining regulations). Fred Davis, Mine, Safety and Health Administration, Scxial Work 134. Union Plaza. Noon Variety concert, Cast of 1 Video Notre Hunchback I, Dame, of part Union Corkroom. program, p.m. p.m. their motor skills, marathon runners can relieve a substantial amount of pain. Henschen plans to publish some of his findings in The Journal of Sports Psychology, and the Research Quarterly. He also plans to use his findings in his classes in sports psychology and research design, and to counsel athletes, which he has done in the past. Henschen and behavioral science professor Dr. Les Cooper, who performs the hypnosis, have also been involved in similar research dealing with the Utah diving and archery teams performances under hypnosis. Cooper said that he uses a "brain concentration technique" to hypnotize Minn)irD sposik 11 2 7 7 often of the fall of Eve. He was not an equal rights advocate," Warenski said. Women's obedience to the patriarchy has been a key factor in the church, she said. "Indeed, if the patriarchy had felt it economically beneficial to the Kingdom in the 19th century to fight against suffrage, women would have done so with equal zeal." "As a believing and practicing Latter Day Saint, I cannot speak dispassionately on these issues," said Jill Mulvay Derfi, a historian with the LDS Church History Department. Derr has also critically reviewjed Warenski 's book. "In my study of women within the LDS Church, I've found some, disconcerting things about the institutidn," Derr said. "Early Mormon women were tremendously influential in management of the church. Their power, however, dropped off in the 1920s." The 19th century was a time of great spiritual awakening for Mormon women, according to Derr. "Women exercised power in capacities of their own interests. They were very powerful." Though Warenski maintains that true authority can only come to women through gaining the priesthood, early Mormon women gained authority in other ways, Derr said. "Belle Spafford and Eliza R. Snow were examples of what I call 'informal influence,', Derr said. "This kind of influence comes from associating with and having access to authority figures. These women worked on a daily basis with general authorities, and made their wishes known." "So we see a rise and fall of power for women within the church," Derr said. "Why? Borrowing some theory from organizational behavior helps," she said. "It is easy to say women never had power in the first plate. Realistically we must look at how organizations work. Those who abide by the rules of any organization get the power they want by working through the system," Derr said. "Very few people have power within a hierarchy, men or women," she said. "This is a painful reality during an age of equality. There is simply no reason lor one person having power over another." suggests feelings of relaxation and heaviness. Under any hypnotic trance, Henschen said, the subject does not lose his will, he is always in control. He compared to Transcendental Meditation and yoga, indicating that they were all founded on the same basic self-hypnos- is principles. If children learned to hypnotize themselves and control their emotions, they would become more aware of themselves, which would create a more stable adulthood, Henschen said. He said he feels that hypnosis is a valuable and learnable skill that can and should be taught to youngsters as young as six years. "What we really need in society today is a way to find a little peace within ourselves," he said, and hypnosis could make this possible. ltd j Gpsl the "I believe it is possible to LDS hierarchy, and to return to the old order. President Kimball's address to the men at the general priesthood meeting last month was very hopeful. He spoke of ending abuses of power from the hierarchy on down to individual families," Derr said. Sonia Johnson was the panel's final participant. Johnson organized Mormons for ERA and works out of Sterling, Va. She continues to work for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in opposition to the official LDS position against the amendment. Johnson began with an anecdote concerning the bishop in her ward in Virginia. He told her one day, "I don't know what you women want. I keep my wife on a pedestal." "It's with true understanding I find many Mormon women still clinging desperately to their pedestals," Johnson said, "but women in the church by the hundreds are climbing "up" off their pedestals." Johnson read letters she has received from Mormon women across the country. "I call them the 'chronicles of the uppity sisters,' " she said. "The uppity sisters are an independent bunch. We are no longer afraid to tell men they do not know what we should believe or how we should behave." One woman wrote to Johnson that discovering the true inequality between men and women in the church "was the most painful sham I have ever realized." Many women write in confusion as to why the early rights of Mormon women have been so systematically usurped, Johnson said. Concerning the ERA specifically, another woman wrote, "I never used to understand why we must struggle for such basic rights. But the men in the church may someday regret they didn't give us rights without a struggle, for through struggle we gain power." Through the wave of opinion among many Mormon women, I have realized a strong need for love and understanding among the women members, Johnson said. "We all want basically the same things," she said. "We want growth and eventual glory for ourselves and for our children. We must offer constant support for each other." Nursing lecture, Neuroscience, Arlene Putt, University of Arizona. p.m. Sailing Club meeting, OSH 107. p.m. Sport Parachuting films and information, Union 323. 7:30 p.m. Ute Alpine Club. River Running presentation. Union 324. 7:30 workshop, Sharing, Recording and Interpreting of Dreams, Campus Christian Center. 232 University St. p.m.-rDre- 1 research volunteers. An individual stares at a Henschen said that hypnotism is used much more in Europe for athletic purposes than in the United States. Traditionally, he said, Americans have regarded hypnotism as mystic and have retained the "don't mess with my mind" attitude. Politics VOL. 89 NO 44 Non-Prof- it Org. U.S. Pottage Paid Permit No. 1529k Salt Lake City. Utah ams 0 ' ' 4' w |
