Although her doctor has done nothing but examine her arthritic hands, elderly Mrs. Joseph feels less pain, apparently because she believes that the doctor has done something for her. Mrs. Joseph's improvement is an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The placebo effect refers to a perceived improvement in symptoms or health due to a treatment or intervention that is actually inactive or has no direct effect on the condition being treated. In this case, Mrs. Joseph's belief that the doctor has helped her has caused her to perceive less pain, even though the doctor has not provided any specific treatment for her arthritis.

Although Her Doctor Has Done Nothing but Examine Her Arthritic