Placebo Quote by Christian Jarrett
““The placebo effect has an evil twin known as the nocebo effect. This is when the expectation of harm or pain becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, even in the absence of any known physical effect. One candidate for the nocebo effect is the discomfort some people report experiencing after using mobile phones. Scientists have failed to identify a physical cause, so it's possible the adverse effects are caused by negative beliefs about the technology.””
About This Quote
Source Quote: Unknown source
The nocebo effect shows expectations of harm can cause real symptoms, even without physical cause.
In simple terms: Expecting harm can cause symptoms without a physical cause.
Be aware of negative expectations influencing health.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- clinical trials
- technology use
- patient counseling
- self‑care
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we mitigate nocebo effects?
- What role do beliefs play in symptom perception?
Expectations are not the only factor in health outcomes.