Pain is affected by level of empathy
May 17, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
We know that outside influences can affect how we feel pain and researchers are working on identifying just how this works.
According to research published in the May issue of the journal Pain, empathy – the ability to understand how another person feels – also affects how pain is felt.
Researchers tested subjects who watched videos intended to make them feel empathetic towards an actor, neutral, or feel little empathy. After watching one of the videos, the subjects all watched the same video in which the actor experienced pain.
At the same time as watching the videos, the subjects experienced painful heat applied to one hand. After the video, they rated the level of pain they experienced.
The results showed that the subjects who felt empathy for the actor experienced more pain than did those who did not feel empathetic towards him.
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As one that has RSD, I know that moods, stress, and real life can affect pain levels. Thus, those who are more sensitive to others pain, could take on a different twist of pain. Just like when a couple is having a child. Sometimes the partner can have birthing pain. So to answer the question, I believe it is highly possible with some people.
I could see this years ago. A friend of mine had a kid and when his kid would hit his head or fall the father would act like nothing happened.
The kid started to cry but immediately stopped when his dad didn’t overreact.
Hi Personal Trainer, thanks for stopping by.
I understand what you’re saying, as long as a parent doesn’t push it too far. I’ve seen parents ignore a child’s cry even if it was for something serious and then the child learns to grin and bear it when it shouldn’t be ignored. It’s a fine line, I think but thanks for mentioning it. Definitely worth thinking about.
Marijke