ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (5): 817-826.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.00817

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Fear of Pain: Effects on Pain Perception and Hypothesized Cognitive Mechanisms

LYU Zhenyong;JI Xiaolei;HUANG Li;Todd JACKSON;CHEN Hong   

  1. (Faculty of Psychological Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)
  • Received:2012-11-14 Online:2013-05-15 Published:2013-05-15
  • Contact: Todd JACKSON;CHEN Hong

Abstract: Fear of pain refers to fear triggered by noxious stimuli appraised as potential threats to physical integrity. This paper reviews research on its' effects on pain perception, attention towards pain, avoidance behavior and placebo analgesia. In addition, leading explanations of fear of pain are outlined: the activity avoidance model, the fear-avoidance model and the interceptive fear conditioning model. Finally, select future research directions are discussed, particularly exploration of cognitive mechanism underlying fear of pain via applications of research methods from cognitive neurosciences.

Key words: pain, fear of pain, fear-avoidance model, cognitive mechanism