Predictably Irrational

Investigating the Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions

by Dan Ariely

The Psychology of Pain: "I Didn't Mean It!"

By Dan Ariely on February 13, 2009 in Predictably Irrational

There's a phrase we hear all the time, and one that suggests something about our psychological makeup: we're not just concerned with actions, but with their attendant mens rea - or lack thereof - as well. Read More

Very interesting

Submitted by YG on February 13, 2009 - 10:07pm.

I experienced something along these lines, but it was an issue of "necessary" vs "unneccesary" pain.

A medical student was performing what was an excruciating procedure on me and when the doctor overseeing her suddenly reprimanded her technique saying she was doing it wrong and "causing unneccesary pain", it was as if any bit of courage I had been able to gather for what I thought was "necessary" pain went out the door..

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Human vs. Machine

Submitted by Anonymous on June 17, 2010 - 3:39am.

There's also the fact that, if you know the deliverer of pain is human and has the chance to be bargained or reasoned with (unlike a machine), then you might act more hurt to get out of it or to make them stop.

A machine doesn't feel pity or pain, and absolutely will not stop until you are dead.