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Social Influences Shape Pain Perception, Dartmouth Study Finds

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

A Dartmouth College study finds that social information significantly influences how people experience pain and mental effort.
The study shows that expectations shaped by others' perceptions can increase perceived pain or task difficulty.
For example, when people hear that a vaccination is painful, they anticipate similar discomfort.
The findings highlight confirmation bias, whereby people favor evidence that aligns with their beliefs and create self-fulfilling prophecies affecting chronic pain.

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Story summary

A Dartmouth College study finds that social information significantly influences how people experience pain and mental effort.
The study shows that expectations shaped by others' perceptions can increase perceived pain or task difficulty.
For example, when people hear that a vaccination is painful, they anticipate similar discomfort.
The findings highlight confirmation bias, whereby people favor evidence that aligns with their beliefs and create self-fulfilling prophecies affecting chronic pain.