Previous psychological research has demonstrated that the mere presence of a loved one — a partner, family member or friend — can help reduce one’s subjective experience of physical pain (for instance, during a medical procedure), versus experiencing similar pain while alone. This research has been replicated over the years in various settings and in such a way as to suggest that this indeed might be a causal relationship. That is, the presence of a loved one actually helps reduce our feelings of pain.
What is this same phenomenon could occur without a loved one being present? Would a photo suffice to also help reduce pain?
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (Master et al., 2009) designed an elegantly simple laboratory experiment to find out. They asked 25 women in long-term relationships to come in and willingly receive painful stimuli (thermal — heat — stimulation) on their left arms which were hidden behind a curtain. The subjects rated the amount of pain they felt on a pain scale under seven different experimental conditions, ranging from viewing a photo of their long-term romantic partner or holding a squeeze ball, to viewing a photo of a chair or holding a stranger’s hand.
The experimenters also measured reaction time — the amount of time it took the subject to register their pain rating after feeling the pain. This was to determine whether it was merely the distraction from pain that reduced the subjective feelings of pain, or whether it was the social support itself from a loved one.
The researchers discovered that simply viewing a love one’s photograph can have a reducing effect on one’s feelings of pain. The researchers explain their findings:
Thus, seeing photographs of loved ones may prime associated mental representations of being loved and supported, which may be sufficient to attenuate pain experience.
The findings suggest that bringing loved ones’ photographs to painful procedures may be beneficial, particularly if those individuals cannot be there.
In fact, because loved ones vary in their ability to provide support, photographs may, in some cases, be more effective than in-person support.
So next time you go in for surgery or some other medical procedure, you might want to consider dumping your partner and bringing only their photo with you instead. A photo appears to help us feel less physical pain during a painful procedure.
And, unlike your partner or family member, a photo can’t be in a bad mood.
Reference:
Master, S.L., et al. (2009). A Picture’s Worth: Partner Photographs Reduce Experimentally Induced Pain. Psychological Science. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02444.x
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4 Comments to
“A Loved One’s Photo Helps Reduce Your Pain”
hello dr. grohol,
i’ve enjoyed your work for several years. this is ironic, for my therapist and i have recently been involved in debate about this very issue. i was previously involved in a 4 and one half year enmeshed and deeply intimate alliance with my former therapist. there was no sexual acting out, but it was eventually too volitile and we terminated and i was referred to another therapist (currently seeing). i am devestated, and have been calling her office, simply listening to her voicemail to self soothe and regulate my emotions as one would utilize a picture of a deceased loved one. my present therapist expresses concern, as she feels it is outside the bounds of “normalcy”, and something about my behavior feels “not right ” to her. my arguement is, that if i possessed a pic, as others do when grieving a loss, then that would not warrent concern, but since it is the recording that i utilize, then it is viewed as something pathological. i argue that it serves the same function for me in this awful time of loss and broken heartedness.what say you? i value your insight. thanks.
This reminds me to take some pics of my wofe and put one in my wallet. Thanks!
Andrew
Bipolar Porch. The very latest on breaking Bipolar Disorder news…
“So next time you go in for surgery or some other medical procedure, you might want to consider dumping your partner and bringing only their photo with you instead.(…)And, unlike your partner or family member, a photo can’t be in a bad mood” I like your humour!
I carry and use a photo/photos of my daughter and some words written by her when in a good mood. Now I know how to keep her away when I shall be in trouble 
Photos of pets are also helpful. I hate admitting this because it might seem silly to some people, but when I travel (or am hospitalized) I like to have their pictures with me. Looking at them makes me feel better. I’ve found that other pet people usually have pictures on the cell phones too.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 6 Oct 2009
