Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects
ObjectiveNon-verbal behaviors (NBs) of caregivers affect pain reports and placebo effects. However, little experimental research has systematically examined the caregivers' NBs. This study protocol and preparatory study report a systematic manipulation of experimenters' NBs to investigate...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1248127/full |
| _version_ | 1797644364171706368 |
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| author | Hojjat Daniali Mollie A. Ruben Magne Arve Flaten |
| author_facet | Hojjat Daniali Mollie A. Ruben Magne Arve Flaten |
| author_sort | Hojjat Daniali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveNon-verbal behaviors (NBs) of caregivers affect pain reports and placebo effects. However, little experimental research has systematically examined the caregivers' NBs. This study protocol and preparatory study report a systematic manipulation of experimenters' NBs to investigate pain report and placebo effects.MethodsWe propose an experiment in which videotaped experimenters (VEs) conduct a pain stimulation and a placebo treatment study. The VEs express one positively enhanced NB and keep the other NBs neutral. Participants will be randomized to either the positive facial expressions (+FE), tone of voice (+TV), body movement (+BM), or neutral NBs (i.e., neutral condition; NC) of the VEs. As a preparatory study for proof of concept, two groups of NB coders from Norway and the USA separately rated the degree of NBs (eye contact, body postures and movements, and tone of voice), and impressions of dominance and being in charge, positivity, and expressivity from each NB video. The NB videos had construct validity and reliability. The +BM and +FE were rated as more dominant and in charge than the +TV and the NC. The +FE and +BM were rated as the most positive and expressive NBs, respectively.Expected results+FE will have the largest placebo effects on pain and stress levels. However, transmitting the NBs to patients by VEs is challenging. Moreover, controlling for the effects of research assistants present in the testing room is challenging.DiscussionWe propose that caregivers' NBs affect pain reports and placebo effects. Moreover, different NBs elicit different impressions, and a better understanding of the role of caregiver NBs requires more rigorous investigations. Lastly, aiming to investigate the caregiver NBs, the varying degrees of micro-NBs and their effects on the formation of impressions should be considered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:29:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bb027e1b1822441f84821e4d97bddd94 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:29:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bb027e1b1822441f84821e4d97bddd942023-10-31T11:36:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-10-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12481271248127Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effectsHojjat Daniali0Mollie A. Ruben1Magne Arve Flaten2Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayObjectiveNon-verbal behaviors (NBs) of caregivers affect pain reports and placebo effects. However, little experimental research has systematically examined the caregivers' NBs. This study protocol and preparatory study report a systematic manipulation of experimenters' NBs to investigate pain report and placebo effects.MethodsWe propose an experiment in which videotaped experimenters (VEs) conduct a pain stimulation and a placebo treatment study. The VEs express one positively enhanced NB and keep the other NBs neutral. Participants will be randomized to either the positive facial expressions (+FE), tone of voice (+TV), body movement (+BM), or neutral NBs (i.e., neutral condition; NC) of the VEs. As a preparatory study for proof of concept, two groups of NB coders from Norway and the USA separately rated the degree of NBs (eye contact, body postures and movements, and tone of voice), and impressions of dominance and being in charge, positivity, and expressivity from each NB video. The NB videos had construct validity and reliability. The +BM and +FE were rated as more dominant and in charge than the +TV and the NC. The +FE and +BM were rated as the most positive and expressive NBs, respectively.Expected results+FE will have the largest placebo effects on pain and stress levels. However, transmitting the NBs to patients by VEs is challenging. Moreover, controlling for the effects of research assistants present in the testing room is challenging.DiscussionWe propose that caregivers' NBs affect pain reports and placebo effects. Moreover, different NBs elicit different impressions, and a better understanding of the role of caregiver NBs requires more rigorous investigations. Lastly, aiming to investigate the caregiver NBs, the varying degrees of micro-NBs and their effects on the formation of impressions should be considered.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1248127/fullnonverbal behaviorsimpression formationstimuli developmentplacebo effectssubtle contextual factorspain reports |
| spellingShingle | Hojjat Daniali Mollie A. Ruben Magne Arve Flaten Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects Frontiers in Psychology nonverbal behaviors impression formation stimuli development placebo effects subtle contextual factors pain reports |
| title | Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| title_full | Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| title_fullStr | Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| title_short | Systematic manipulation of experimenters' non-verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| title_sort | systematic manipulation of experimenters non verbal behaviors for the investigation of pain reports and placebo effects |
| topic | nonverbal behaviors impression formation stimuli development placebo effects subtle contextual factors pain reports |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1248127/full |
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