The Memory of Pain

Thinking, Fast and Slow

This flow follows how medical experiences become distorted memories and how those memories govern later choices.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Momentary Reports Momentary Reports from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Pain in Real Time Continuous Experience Patients report pain minute by minute during invasive procedures.

Momentary Reports from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Pain in Real Time Continuous Experience Patients report pain minute by minute during invasive procedures.

Pain in Real Time Continuous Experience Patients report pain minute by minute during invasive procedures. Unequal Profiles Intensity fluctuates and duration differs widely.

Peak-End Memory Peak-End Memory from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Stored Episode Selective Weight The worst moment and the final moment dominate retrospective ratings.

Peak-End Memory from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Stored Episode Selective Weight The worst moment and the final moment dominate retrospective ratings.

The Stored Episode Selective Weight The worst moment and the final moment dominate retrospective ratings. Duration Neglect Longer procedures are not remembered as proportionally worse.

Gentle Ending Gentle Ending from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Relief as Evidence Slight Improvement A longer exposure ends with warmer water and reduced pain.

Gentle Ending from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Relief as Evidence Slight Improvement A longer exposure ends with warmer water and reduced pain.

Relief as Evidence Slight Improvement A longer exposure ends with warmer water and reduced pain. Better Memory The improvement makes the objectively worse episode seem preferable.

Repeated Suffering Repeated Suffering from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Choice to Repeat Memory's Verdict Most participants choose the longer exposure when its ending is better.

Repeated Suffering from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Choice to Repeat Memory's Verdict Most participants choose the longer exposure when its ending is better.

The Choice to Repeat Memory's Verdict Most participants choose the longer exposure when its ending is better. Mistaken Preference The remembering self overrides the experiencing self.

Medical Design Medical Design from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Designing Better Endings Memory Objective A physician seeking better memories may lower peaks and soften endings.

Medical Design from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Designing Better Endings Memory Objective A physician seeking better memories may lower peaks and soften endings.

Designing Better Endings Memory Objective A physician seeking better memories may lower peaks and soften endings. Welfare Conflict Those choices may increase total pain rather than reduce it.

During the colonoscopy research

Immediately after the procedures end

During the cold-hand study

Seven minutes after the cold-hand trials

Near the conclusion of Part 5