PSYC 3P51 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Endorphins, Physical Therapy, Palpation
16 Dec 2016
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Pain : pain is adaptive since it motivates us in 3 general ways, reflexively, we can immediately withdraw ourselves from it. It is a disincentive for potentially self damaging behaviour (learning) It can slow down behaviour and force us to rest and recover once damage has occurred. Pain as a reflex: there are several modes in which pain acts - the simplest being a reflex arc (hand, hot stove, designed to minimize damage to body, action takes place before information reaches brain. Pain can also be linked to inhibitory mechanisms involving learning. Punishment can involve adding a painful stimulus contingent on a behaviour. (parent spanking, or electric shock for rats in learning experiments) Negative reinforcement can involve removing an aversive stimulus contingent on a response. E. g. immersing a burning hand in cold water to relieve the pain may increase this behaviour.
