Observing another’s pain response changes observers’ own physiology

Evidence

Ken showed that this was not some subjective effect on reporting. Those who saw the tough model showed (1) declining measurements of electrodermal skin potential, meaning that their bodies stopped reacting to the threat, (2) lower and more stable heart rates, and (3) lower stress ratings. Cultural learning from the tough model changed their physiological reactions to electric shocks. The effect of observing a tough model and inferring their underlying experience is a more potent inducer of placebo effects than mere verbal suggestions. In fact, it’s about as effective as direct conditioning. — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 904

Categorization

• XREF: Model-based (prestige/conformist-style) learning trumps verbal instruction for reshaping biology — ties to the reader’s social-learning-bias framework. — connects to: Placebo adherence alone doubles heart attack survival odds — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 901; The feeling of pain depends on how it is socially expressed — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular:…, 429; Empathy is not a hard-wired reflexive response to others’ emotions — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 637

Broader Connections

• Empathy is not a hard-wired reflexive response to others’ emotions #complicates (0.78) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 637
• The feeling of pain depends on how it is socially expressed #expands (0.72) — Talal Asad, Formations of the Secular, 429