The Psychological Effects of Botox - Dr. Michael Lewis Flashcards
(background):
What is Botox?
Botox is toxin produced by the Botulinum bacteria.
shorthand for Botulinum Toxin A - Botox is one brand
(background):
Name a few medical uses for botox.
Botox can be used to treat:
- Incontinence
- Migraine
- Squint
- Uncontrolled blinking
- Dietary track problems / obesity
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Wound healing
- Excessive sweating
- Painful sexual intercourse (vaginismus)
- Premature ejaculation
- Cosmetic treatments (7.2 million in US in 2017)
(background):
How does botox work?
Botox acts at the neuromuscular junction.
Blocks the neurotransmission,
Blocks acetylcholine,
acetylcholine acts to tell the non-cardiac muscles to contract
(background research):
Who proposed of the ‘grief muscles’?
(background research):
Darwin (1872) - ‘the grief muscles’
(between the eyebrows)
When we make a facial expression, it’s not only because we feel a feeling, we’re using that expression to intensify the feeling.
(background research):
What did William James propose in 1890?
(background research):
William James, 1890 -
A stimulus produces a bodily change.
Awareness of this change is the emotion.
e.g.
‘ I have a scared expression, therefore I feel afraid’
(background research):
Describe the experiment devised by Strack, Martin & Stepper (1988)
(background research):
Strack, Martin & Stepper (1988) -
PROCEDURE
- Got people to put pens in their mouths.
- Half held it with only their lips
- Other half held it with only their teeth
- Experimenter told a joke to both groups.
RESULTS
- The half with just lips groaned at the joke
- The teeth half laughed at a joke
CONCLUSION
- The teeth half round things are funnier because the expression automatically makes them happier.
Very little demand characteristics because they did not have any conscious awareness that they were essentially being told to smile or not smile.
(background):
What is a negative impact of emotion being impacted by facial expressions?
Some people with facial paralysis suffer from depression (but not all).
Was found that a dysfunction in the ability to smile predicted whether someone would be depressed.
(background):
Why are emotions universal?
Emotions are innate.
- proved by people who are very illiterate (e.g. certain tribes) show facial expressions.
(background):
What are the 6 universal emotions?
- ve
- Anger
- Sadness
- Disgust
- Fear
+ve
- Happiness
- Surprise
(background research):
Who discovered that botox may be able to make people slightly happier?
(background research):
FInzi & Wasserman (2006) -
PROCEDURE
- 10 patients w/ depression
- Gave them Botulinum Toxin to their procures and corrugated supercilii muscles (‘the grief muscles’)
- Assessed their depression couple weeks after their treatment.
RESULTS
- before treatment: pretty high depression scores. (21-46)
- after treatment: 9 patients had considerably reduced depression. (0-14)
- 1 patient was resistant, he maybe had bipolar depression rather than unipolar. (33)
CONFOUNDING VARIABLE
- They may have felt happier because they had a higher self esteem from the Botox.
(background research):
Who gave botox treatment to patients without depression to see if they got any happier?
(background research):
Lewis & Bowler (2009) -
Wanted to find whether happiness was coming from high self esteem from their new looks or the paralysis.
PROCEDURE
- Botox Group, N = 12
Received Botox treatment for frown lines + maybe other treatments.
- Comparison Group, N = 13
Received treatment other than Botox for frown lines.
RESULTS
- No difference in perceived effectiveness of treatment.
(background):
How can botox be used to possibly help OCD?
In a study a wrinkled nose produced lower pleasantness ratings.
Disgust has been implicated in OCD.
Botox could reduce the intensity go the disgust emotion and might reduce symptoms of OCD.
(Michael’s research):
What year was Michael Lewis’ botox research?
2018
(Michael’s research):
What was his research question?
(Lewis, 2018)
Are there any negative effects of Botox?
(Michael’s research):
What was his procedure?
(Lewis, 2018)
PROCEDURE
- test/re-test
- 36 Pps who underwent cosmetic treatment. (24 of those received Botox treatment)
- Asked 3 questions:
1 about happiness, 2 about social interactions.
