How pain was explained in the 1950s and early 1960s. Pain occurs when receptors (specifically nociceptors), are stimulated and send signals from the skin directly to the brain.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Bad is felt more than good
- Social pain
- Direct pathway model
- Pain relief

Focuses of pain

Goldstein, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.


Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience

Direct pathway model

After some sort of injury, a certain amount of pain is pathological pain and can be eased by:
- knowing how to direct their attention (i.e. trying to relax and knowing what to expect)
- a placebo

Pain relief (pathological)

Animals have heightened perception when it comes to feeling effects such as pain, danger, or failure. The avoidance of these threats, increases the chances of suvival and thus that the animal passes on its genes. 

Bad is felt more than good

Hurting associated with humiliation, rejection, or insult. It can feel as bad or worse than physical pain.

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