An interesting study in a recent issue of the journal Social NeuroScience demonstrates how social support can decrease feelings of social pain. In a previous post, I noted how researchers had identified regions of the brain that become activated when people are rejected by others. One of these regions in the brain (ACC) was examined by the researchers in this new study. Here's what they did:
They had research subjects perform a task (like a game), where they were made to feel rejected. Later on in this game, they were offered some emotional support. What the researchers found was that the area of the brain associated with pain (ACC) decreased in activation when the subjects were being emotionally supported.
What does this mean? It means people have the ability to cause us serious pain...but they can also give us reprieve from pain. Like a drug.
These results help explain why talking about problems can be helpful. For example, it seems that talking to a friend following a break-up can decrease the level of activation in the brain responsible for the pain....which could speed up the emotional healing process.
Prior to this study, psychologists already knew that emotional support had positive effects on physical pain.
For example, pain researchers have found that pain thresholds increase (ex: people can keep their hand in a bucket of ice water for longer periods of time) when a loved one is standing next to them and offering support.
It was always assumed that emotional support decreased both social pain and physical pain. However, this study offers clear scientific support for this assumption.
The lesson? If you're feeling hurt, rejected or alienated -- talk to someone to get emotional support. It's like taking aspirin for headache!
Dr. Roger Covin
Montreal Psychologist
www.drcovin.ca
They had research subjects perform a task (like a game), where they were made to feel rejected. Later on in this game, they were offered some emotional support. What the researchers found was that the area of the brain associated with pain (ACC) decreased in activation when the subjects were being emotionally supported.
What does this mean? It means people have the ability to cause us serious pain...but they can also give us reprieve from pain. Like a drug.
These results help explain why talking about problems can be helpful. For example, it seems that talking to a friend following a break-up can decrease the level of activation in the brain responsible for the pain....which could speed up the emotional healing process.
Prior to this study, psychologists already knew that emotional support had positive effects on physical pain.
For example, pain researchers have found that pain thresholds increase (ex: people can keep their hand in a bucket of ice water for longer periods of time) when a loved one is standing next to them and offering support.
It was always assumed that emotional support decreased both social pain and physical pain. However, this study offers clear scientific support for this assumption.
The lesson? If you're feeling hurt, rejected or alienated -- talk to someone to get emotional support. It's like taking aspirin for headache!
Dr. Roger Covin
Montreal Psychologist
www.drcovin.ca
3 comments:
Really interesting post! Do you think that talking to people about your problem, say a break-up like you suggested, can ever start to cause problems? I guess I'm wondering about whether it can "keep the topic alive", lead to elaboration of consequences, etc. This might be similar to rumination - but with a confederate! Thoughts?
It's a good question. There is certainly the potential for reassurance seeking and rumination when talking to a friend. It probably depends on how the person perceives the interaction. If they walk away from the conversation thinking "I'm still hurting, and I still have some negative thoughts, BUT I'm glad I have a good friend to support me," then it will help to provide some mild relief (relative to not talking at all). Conversely, if the person is so wrapped up in their thoughts that they ignore the support, it may not be helpful. There is a lot of research showing how heightened self-focused attention usually causes increases in negative mood. My guess is that the hurt person has to realize they have support and acknowledge it, in order to receive maximal benefit. I'm sure future research will help sort this out. Thanks for question!
This is great information to have - for both sides! Now loved ones who feel useless when comforting family/friends during physical/emotional pain can know that they really are making a difference.
Post a Comment