Highlights
- •In this experimental study, intimacy and operant models were contrasted.
- •Perspective-taking instructions led to greater empathy and less pain.
- •Observers' empathic feelings and perceived validation were related to less pain.
- •Empathy and validation did not reinforce pain, supporting the intimacy process model.
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to demonstrate that empathy and validation could
be increased in an observing partner who received a brief perspective-taking manipulation,
resulting in less pain severity and greater pain tolerance in their partner, who experienced
experimental pain. In addition, we examined the correlations between perceived empathy/validation
and behavioral ratings of validation and invalidation. In 126 pain-free romantic couples,
1 partner was randomly assigned to complete the cold pressor task while the other
observed. The couples were randomly assigned to a) a perspective-taking group in which
observing partners were privately instructed to take the perspective of the pain participant;
or b) a control group in which observing partners received only a description of the
task. Compared with the control group, pain participants in the perspective-taking
group reported that observing partners had been more validating during the task and
they also reported significantly lower pain severity. In addition, pain participants'
reports of their partners' validation and observing partners' self-reported empathic
feelings were significantly related to lower pain severity over time. The results
provide support that perspective taking may induce empathic feelings, in addition
to perceptions of validation, which in turn promotes emotion regulation during pain.
Perspective
The experimental evidence in this study suggests that empathic feelings can be induced
in significant others with simple instructions, and this manipulation leads to less
pain in their partners undergoing a painful task. The results suggest that perspective
taking, empathy, and validation should be further investigated as pain intervention
targets.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 27, 2015
Accepted:
August 11,
2015
Received in revised form:
July 27,
2015
Received:
March 6,
2015
Footnotes
Research funding was provided by the Wayne State University Graduate School and Psychology Department. To our knowledge, we have no relationships, financial or otherwise, that would produce a conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 American Pain Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
