w2 - Social Psych' of Pain Flashcards
Theory of Pain
Describe the Specificity Theory.
The body has its own seperate sensory system for detecting pain (nerves, pathways, parts of brain ect.)
outdated.
Theory of Pain
Describe the Pattern Theory.
Receptors for pain were shared with other senses. Pain signals only transmitted when certain activities reached intense levels.
outdated.
What kinds of aspects were added to our the previous bottom-up theory of pain?
- Attention / expectation
- Mood
- Prior experiences
- Neurobiochemical and structual changes
bottom up and top down view
Where is the gating mechanism located?
In the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horns
- part of the grey matter than runs the length of the spinal cord
Where is the gating mechanism located?
In the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horns
- part of the grey matter than runs the length of the spinal cord
What does the Gate-control theory allow for?
It allows for an account of other external inputs to ones experience of pain to be considered.
Gate-control theory of pain
What three factors control the opening or closing of the gate?
- the amount of activity in the pain fibers
- the amount of activity in peripheral fibers
- Messages that decend from the brain
Interaction between these three factors
changing the meaning of pain
What did Benedettei’s (2013) study example
Saw that groups pain tollerance was sig’ higher if primed that their experience was beneficial
meaning changing experience of pain
What did an examination of Beechers soliders accout?
Meaning regulates pain.
The soilders were less likely to experience pain when engaging on a battle feild because it meant they were likely to be taken away from a perceived threat (continued fighting)
Name to other factors, besides meaning, that seems to regulate pain.
- Control
- Fear / anticipation
What is one way researchers control for physical inputs of the pain experience ?
Altering the neurochemistry with pharmaceuticals. Analgesics ect.
How did Bingel (2011) evidence the power of expectation on the pain experience?
Saw how the primed expectation of the efficacy of pain medication altered it’s actual efficacy on the participant
What neurochemical are released in the brain during pleasurable AND painful activities?
Opioids and dopamine.
What does the Opponent Process theory outline?
Shows the painful experiences can actually culminate in pleasurable ones. The brain generates pleasurable chemicals in the face of pain.
That pleasure and pain are inextricably tethered to one another
Describe “the runner’s high”
The residual high seen after putting oneself through intense exertion. positive chemicals remain in the system post activity
What are three possible pathways that see self-harm resulting in affect regulation ?
- Opioid release
- Distraction
- Enhanced cognitive-affective control
Not the harm as aspect, but the pain
emotion regulation stratergy
How is distraction, as seen during painful experiences, effective at regulating negemotion.
Brings people into the present.
Away from thoughts of past and future.
How does pain act to promote cognitive-affect regulation?
emotion regulation stratergy
Pain and cognitive control intergrated in the anterior midcingulate cortex. Pain seen to increase emotion regulation
Pain as way to activate justice related concepts
How is pain related to guilt?
- Guilty particiapnts were seen as having a higher pain threshold
- Also reported the pain activity as more painful than non-guilty participants
- Pain seemed to resolve their guilt
Justice related thinking
What is the relationship betweem pain and self-indulgence.
People that felt ethical pain were more like to engage in self-indulgence
How is pain related to taste?
Pain seemed to increase senstivity to taste. Making flavours more intense and noticeable
What is the concept of secondary gain?
This is where people exploit pain to attract social support from others
- gains attention, assistanece, and concern more generally
What is pain catastrophisation?
Exaggerated responses to maximise the probability that pain with be recognised by others
- correlated with insecure attachment styles, anxious attachment
- used to secure attention and empath when people feel insecure
What is the relationship between pain and social support?
Social support increases pain tollerance, adjustments to chronic pain, higher cooperation
pain increases relational focus
