Placebo Paradox, The: Exploring the Placebo Effect

Synopsis

The placebo effect is a long-recognised phenomenon that has played an important part in the history of medicine. But it’s not until recently that science has begun to truly understand how the placebo effect really works. [6 minutes]

Professor Nicholas Humphrey asks why placebos work and reveals their central paradox: if we can effectively cure ourselves by taking placebo medicine, why don’t we just heal ourselves straight away?

Exploring this paradox from the perspective of evolution, Professor Humphrey looks at the associated costs and benefits of pain or illness. How can placebo medications readdress this balance and is a "dose of contrived optimism" just what the doctor ordered?

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Subjects

Medical sciences; Psychology

Keywords

evolution; medicines; placebos

Online availability

URI

http://richannel.org/the-placebo-paradox

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Director

Ed Prosser

Contributor

Nicholas Humphrey

Production Company

Name

Royal Institution of Great Britain

Phone

020 7409 2992

Fax

020 7629 3569

Address

LONDON
W1X 4BS

Distributor

Name

Ri Channel

Web

http://www.richannel.org External site opens in new window