PSYC 3170 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Suggestibility

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3170
• Professor: Krista Trobst

Document Summary

Distraction: the technique of focusing on a non painful stimulus in the immediate environment to divert one"s attention from discomfort. Based on the amount of attention, the extent to which the risk is interesting or engrossing, and the tasks" credibility to the person. First, the therapist points out that people are not always ware of sensations that have a real physical basis. Second, the client is asked to think of the process of tuning a tv set. Third, the therapist points out that people can learn to tune out real pain sensations. Nonpain imagery/guided imagery: a strategy whereby the person tries to alleviate discomfort by conjuring up a mental scene that is unrelated to or incompatible with the pain. The main difference is that imagery is based on the person"s imagination rather than on real objects or events in the environment. Individuals who use imagery do not have to depend on the environment to provide a suitably distracting stimulus.