- Email: [email protected]
Observer bias in judging pain in others
s14 CHRONIC PAIN AND NEUROTICISM. K. Sedlak, Clinic of Traumatology and Clinic of Pain, Medical Academy of Krakow, 31-061 Krakow, ul. Trynitarska 11, Poland
/ I8 S,ide
I
Sat 2:30 G. B. II
.~
/
~
Aim of Investigation: This study was intended to determine psychological characteristics of chronic pain patients as well as implications of psychological variables in organic and psychogenic pain patients' functioning. Methods: A group of 36 patients was examined contriving two subgroups witmic and psychogenic pain. The Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), the Security-Insecurity Inventory (S-I Inventory), and enquiries concentrating on psychosocial aspects of pain were applied for each patient. Results: No significant differences were found in the psychological examination either among patients with organic and psychogenic pain or An estimation of the whole group results, among female and male subjects. however, showed that over 50% of the subjects received high scores on the Neuroticism scale (MPI) and on the S-I Inventory. Neurotic features (MPI) and a lack of psychological Conclusions: security (S-I Inventory) imply the existence of psychopathological features This psychopathology is due to the experiin patients with chronic pain. ence of pain iteself rather than as a contributing factor to the chronic pain etiology. OBSERVER BIAS IN JUDGING PAIN IN OTHERS. Kenneth D. Craig, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, :_&%:_ . Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T lW5 Aim of Investigations: The purpose was to examine the impact on observer judgments of induced pain of information about the suffering individual unrelated to the nature of their subjective experience, or the severity of noxious stimulation delivered to them. The conceptual model of pain applied here acknowledges the communication value of painful expression and the importance of an observing clinician or significant other's appraisal of the nature and severity of the suffering person's distress. Methods: Two investigations have been completed with thirty observinb judges in each study systematically rating videotapes portraying shocked subjects' responses to electric currents ranging between nonpainful and tolerance levels. Groups of judges were either informed the shocked subjects had been prepared to be hypersensitive or insensitive to pain, but in fact all judges rated the same subjects' reactions. Results: In the first study, that used relatively low level shocks, onlwhypersensitivity" instructions had an impact - greater pain was attributed to the shocked subjects. In the second study, using stronger instructions led to attributions of greater currents, the "insensitivity" distress with the strongest current intensities. Conclusion: Systematic biases can be induced in observers' judgments of pain in others. In the present studies, the severity of distress experienced and the nature of the biases extraneous to the pain itself were crucial determinants. Other sources of bias in clinical and natural environments need to be examined.
/ I8 S,ide
I
Sat 2:30 G. B. II
.~
/
~
Aim of Investigation: This study was intended to determine psychological characteristics of chronic pain patients as well as implications of psychological variables in organic and psychogenic pain patients' functioning. Methods: A group of 36 patients was examined contriving two subgroups witmic and psychogenic pain. The Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), the Security-Insecurity Inventory (S-I Inventory), and enquiries concentrating on psychosocial aspects of pain were applied for each patient. Results: No significant differences were found in the psychological examination either among patients with organic and psychogenic pain or An estimation of the whole group results, among female and male subjects. however, showed that over 50% of the subjects received high scores on the Neuroticism scale (MPI) and on the S-I Inventory. Neurotic features (MPI) and a lack of psychological Conclusions: security (S-I Inventory) imply the existence of psychopathological features This psychopathology is due to the experiin patients with chronic pain. ence of pain iteself rather than as a contributing factor to the chronic pain etiology. OBSERVER BIAS IN JUDGING PAIN IN OTHERS. Kenneth D. Craig, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, :_&%:_ . Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T lW5 Aim of Investigations: The purpose was to examine the impact on observer judgments of induced pain of information about the suffering individual unrelated to the nature of their subjective experience, or the severity of noxious stimulation delivered to them. The conceptual model of pain applied here acknowledges the communication value of painful expression and the importance of an observing clinician or significant other's appraisal of the nature and severity of the suffering person's distress. Methods: Two investigations have been completed with thirty observinb judges in each study systematically rating videotapes portraying shocked subjects' responses to electric currents ranging between nonpainful and tolerance levels. Groups of judges were either informed the shocked subjects had been prepared to be hypersensitive or insensitive to pain, but in fact all judges rated the same subjects' reactions. Results: In the first study, that used relatively low level shocks, onlwhypersensitivity" instructions had an impact - greater pain was attributed to the shocked subjects. In the second study, using stronger instructions led to attributions of greater currents, the "insensitivity" distress with the strongest current intensities. Conclusion: Systematic biases can be induced in observers' judgments of pain in others. In the present studies, the severity of distress experienced and the nature of the biases extraneous to the pain itself were crucial determinants. Other sources of bias in clinical and natural environments need to be examined.