 |
|
Sticks and Stones: A New Study on Social and Physical Pain
August 28, 2008We all know the famous saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," but is this proverb actually true?
According to some researchers, words may pack a harder punch that we realize. Psychologists Zhansheng Chen and Kipling D. Williams of Purdue University, Julie Fitness of Macquarie University, and Nicola C. Newton of the University of New South Wales found that the pain of physical events may fade with time, while the pain of social occurrences can be re-instantiated through memory retrievals.
The researchers set up four experiments to demonstrate this finding. In the first two experiments, participants reported the amount of pain they felt while trying to relive a physically or a socially painful experience. After writing detailed accounts of each experience, the participants reported how they felt.
The last two experiments were similar to the first two, except participants were asked to work on some cognitive tasks with different levels of difficulty after reliving a socially or physically painful event.
The results, published in the August issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, are clear. Participants who had to recall a socially painful experience reported stronger feelings of pain and relived the experience more intensely than those who had to recall a physically painful event. Furthermore, participants who only had to recall a physically painful event performed better on the difficult mental tasks in comparison to those who had to relive a socially painful event.
A possible explanation for these results could be the evolution of the human brain, specifically in an area called the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for complex thinking, perception and language processing.
"The evolution of the cerebral cortex certainly improved the ability of human beings to create and adapt; to function in and with groups, communities, and culture; and to respond to pain associated with social interactions," the authors wrote. "However, the cerebral cortex may also have had an unintended effect of allowing humans to relive, re-experience, and suffer from social pain."
Association for Psychological Science
The last two experiments were similar to the first two, except participants were asked to work on some cognitive tasks with different levels of difficulty after reliving a socially or physically painful event.
The results, published in the August issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, are clear. Participants who had to recall a socially painful experience reported stronger feelings of pain and relived the experience more intensely than those who had to recall a physically painful event. Furthermore, participants who only had to recall a physically painful event performed better on the difficult mental tasks in comparison to those who had to relive a socially painful event.
A possible explanation for these results could be the evolution of the human brain, specifically in an area called the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for complex thinking, perception and language processing.
"The evolution of the cerebral cortex certainly improved the ability of human beings to create and adapt; to function in and with groups, communities, and culture; and to respond to pain associated with social interactions," the authors wrote. "However, the cerebral cortex may also have had an unintended effect of allowing humans to relive, re-experience, and suffer from social pain."
Association for Psychological Science
Pain Current Events and Pain News RSSDiabetes cases to double and costs to triple by 2034
In the next 25 years, the number of Americans living with diabetes will nearly double, increasing from 23.7 million in 2009 to 44.1 million in 2034.
New study finds men and women may respond differently to danger
Researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain activation have found that men and women respond differently to positive and negative stimuli, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Too much physical activity may lead to arthritis
Middle-aged men and women who engage in high levels of physical activity may be unknowingly causing damage to their knees and increasing their risk for osteoarthritis, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Smart phones allow quick diagnosis of acute appendicitis
Radiologists can accurately diagnose acute appendicitis from a remote location with the use of a handheld device or mobile phone equipped with special software.
Rare pancreatic cancer patients may live longer when treated with radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is effective in achieving local control and palliation in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNTs), despite such tumors being commonly considered resistant to radiation therapy.
Measuring and modeling blood flow in malaria
When people have malaria, they are infected with Plasmodium parasites, which enter the body from the saliva of a mosquito, infect cells in the liver, and then spread to red blood cells.
Johns Hopkins researchers track down protein responsible for chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps
A protein known to stimulate blood vessel growth has now been found to be responsible for the cell overgrowth in the development of polyps that characterize one of the most severe forms of sinusitis, a study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests.
Laser therapy can aggravate skin cancer
High irradiances of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) should not be used over melanomas.
Reflux esophagitis due to immune reaction, not acute acid burn, UT Southwestern researchers report
Contrary to current thinking, a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might not develop as a direct result of acidic digestive juices burning the esophagus, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found in an animal study.
Patient's weight not linked to success of fibroid surgery
Obese patients are no more likely to have post-operative complications than those of average weight when undergoing robotic surgery to remove uterine fibroids, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital.
More Pain Current Events and Pain News Articles
 |
Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain by Pete Egoscue (Author), Roger Gittines (Contributor) Starting today, you don't have to live in pain. That is the revolutionary message of this breakthrough system for eliminating chronic pain without drugs, surgery, or expensive physical therapy. Developed by Pete Egoscue, a nationally renowned physiologist and sports injury consultant to some of today's top athletes, the Egoscue Method has an astounding 95 percent success rate. The key is a series of gentle exercises and carefully constructed stretches called E-cises. Inside you'll find detailed photographs and step-by-step instructions for dozens of motioncizes specifically designed to provide quick and lasting relief of: Lower back pain, hip problems, sciatica, and bad knees Carpal tunnel syndrome and even some forms of arthritis Migraines and other headaches,... |
 |
Cynic Paradise by Pain |
![PAIN [Online Game Code - Full Game]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PgbhfvFwL._SL160_.jpg) |
PAIN [Online Game Code - Full Game] by Sony Computer Entertainment It's the funniest game in town! Load characters into a super-sized, ultra powerful slingshot and launch them into an active, physics-controlled environment filled with precarious and humorous situations. Score points by stringing together PAINful collisions and unleashing chaos on the downtown environment. Enjoy single player challenges like Spanx the Monkey or head-to-head modes like Fun With Explosives. |
 |
Nothing Remains the Same by Pain 2002 album for Swedish techno metal act, the side project of Peter Tagtgren, the singer, guitarist & main songwriter in the globally acknowledged death-metal act Hypocrisy. 12 tracks. |
 |
Pain by Patrick Wall (Author) AAUP Excellence in Interior Design; New York Book Show Excellence in Cover Design Pain is one of medicine´s greatest mysteries. When farmer John Mitson caught his hand in a baler, he cut off his trapped hand and carried it to a neighbor. "Sheer survival and logic" was how he described it. "And strangely, I didn´t feel any pain." How can this be? We´re taught that pain is a warning message to be heeded at all costs, yet it can switch off in the most agonizing circumstances or switch on for no apparent reason. Many scientists, philosophers, and laypeople imagine pain to operate like a rigid, simple signaling system, as if a particular injury generates a fixed amount of pain that simply gets transmitted to the brain; yet this mechanistic model is woefully lacking in the face of the... |
 |
The Pain Survival Guide: How to Reclaim Your Life (APA Lifetools) by Dennis C. Turk (Author), Frits, Ph.D. Winter (Author) If you suffer from chronic pain, this proven 10-step program brings hope and relief, showing you how gradual changes in specific behaviors can lead to great improvements in your ability to cope. Psychologists Turk and Winters’ recommendations are based on solid research that shows what works and on their success with thousands of patients. Unlike the authors of other pain books, they promise no miracle cures, but they do help you learn "not to let your body push you around" so life becomes enjoyable again. The key lessons in this book include • Uncovering some of the myths about pain and the deceptive ways it fools your body into unconstructive behavior • Pacing your activity, so you build strength without overdoing or underdoing it • Learning how to induce deep relaxation... |
 |
Psalms of Extinction by Pain Peter Tagtgren - musician, producer and creative brain behind Pain - is used to pushing boundaries. It's been a career that has involved fronting bands - notably Hypocrisy, and now Pain - or shaping their sounds - as he has done with Celtic Frost, Children Of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir and Immortal, among others. He has been described by Alternative Press as "the Rick Rubin of Scandinavian metal." Pain is a solo-project in which T gtgren played every instrument, culminating in a sound that is electronica infused metal with an ethereal ambience and setting Pain apart from other industrial based artists. A stellar cast of musicians have helped on 'Psalms Of Extinction'. In Flames bassist Peter Iwers, Children Of Bodom guitarist Alexei Laiho and Mot rhead drummer Mikkey Dee. |
![PAIN: Sore Spots [Online Game Code - Game Add-on]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51S%2BZfLRrtL._SL160_.jpg) |
PAIN: Sore Spots [Online Game Code - Game Add-on] by Sony Computer Entertainment This Sore Spots Add-on features two new environments for PAIN! The first area is the gymnasium at Morningwood High school, where you'll play a new mode called Mad Science. In this mode, your task is to mix different colored jugs of chemicals...but watch out for some PAINful results. The second place is a top secret alien research facility with a twist on Fun With Explosives. The new PAINalympics Mode lets two to four players compete in a variety of PAINful events in a race for gold medal domination! Idol Minds has even thrown in some cameos by some of your PAIN favorites. |
 |
Dog Gone Pain-American Biosciences Aches and Pains Reliver, 60 Chewables Tablets by American Bioscience Aches and pains reduce your dog's enjoyment of life and our enjoyment of their company. Running, walking, getting into the car or just rising to greet you become painful ordeals. Let DGPTM (Dog-Gone Pain) help your dog become the same carefree and playful member of the family he or she used to be, and wants to be again. DGP was developed by leading Australian veterinarians & herbalists. It's a complete, all-natural formula that revitalizes older dogs physically and mentally: |
 |
Pain by Dan Middleman (Author) Richard Dubin is a talented distance runner at a major southern university. Pain is the story of Richard’s senior year as he proceeds with varying success through the year, from cross country through the Olympic Trials, all the while trying to manage a seesawing relationship with a beautiful and fascinatingly unpredictable woman, 10 years his senior. Richard’s university is one of the great American party schools and we are treated to a series of uninhibited college blowouts, featuring copious liquid consumption, naked kegstands, nude relays. . . and, most daring of all, poetry reading! As the pressures mount, Richard’s life begins to unravel. All the forces converge at the Olympic Trials in New Orleans and it is there that Richard comes to the edge of the abyss. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |