Observer influences on pain: an experimental series examining same-sex and opposite-sex friends, strangers, and romantic partners

Abstract

Despite the well-documented sex and gender differences, little is known about the relative impact of male-female social interactions on pain. Three experiments were conducted to investigate whether the type of interpersonal relationship men and women have with an observer affects how they respond to experimental pain. Study 1 recruited friends and strangers, study 2 examined the effects of same- and opposite-sex friends, whereas study 3 investigated the differences between opposite-sex friends and opposite-sex romantic partners. One hundred forty-four dyads were recruited (48 in each study). One person from each dyad completed 2 pain tasks, whereas the other person observed in silence. Overall, the presence of another person resulted in an increase in pain threshold and tolerance on the cold-pressor task and algometer. The sex status of the dyads also had a role, but only within the friendship groups. In particular, male friends had the most pronounced effect on men's pain, increasing pain tolerance. We suggest that the presence of an observer, their sex, and the nature of the participant-observer relationship all influence how pain is reported. Further research should focus on dyadic relationships, and their influence on how men and women report and communicate pain in specific contexts.

Contextual influences in decoding pain expressions: effects of patient age, informational priming, and observer characteristics

“…This is particularly relevant, as observer and patient characteristics are known to influence pain decoding. 19 , 25 Researchers may also evaluate the influence of additional contextual features, such as observers' ethnicity and sex. 3 , 69 There would also be value in using manipulation checks in future research to ensure that experimental primes are perceived as intended.…”

Accurate empathy of romantic partners increases pain ratings but promotes recovery

“…Another possibility is that romantic partners are more intimate and more willing to express their feelings than friends, whereas friends may not want to disclose pain during the task. 5 Thus, the empathetic expression of pain from a romantic partner rather than a friend might increase the pain intensity rating. Similarly, Chambers et al observed that, in mother-daughter dyads, the girls’ intensity ratings for cold pressor pain increased when their mothers interacted with them in an empathetic way.…”

“… 4 However, little is known about how perceived empathy influences pain in different social relationships. 5 …”

“…A handful of studies have examined the causal relation between perceived empathy in painful situations and different relationship types (such as romantic attachments or friends) during dyadic interactions. 3 , 5 , 6 These studies have produced conflicting results. For example, some studies using the cold pressor test have found that participants rated more pain in the alone condition than in the presence of a same-sex friend.…”

“…The cold pressor task is considered a safe and effective method of pain induction and has also been used in earlier social pain studies. 5 , 10 , 11 However, the self-reporting of pain in the aforementioned studies is often criticized because of its subjectivity and unreliability. 9 These studies using the cold pressor task measure psychological patterns only when participants experience pain in the first stage of the task (subjective perception).…”