Imaginal Dispositions and Situation-Specific Expectations in Strategy-Induced Pain Reductions

Following a baseline trial of finger pressure pain, subjects in one group chose either an imagery or a nonimaginal distraction strategy (shadowing letters) to help them reduce posttest pain. Controls were posttested without intervening treatment instructions. Subjects in the two strategy groups reduced pain to an equivalent degree and significantly more than controls. Neither hypnotizability nor trait indexes of imaginal propensities were related to subjects' choice of strategy, and none of these indexes predicted the extent of reported pain reduction in those who chose either strategy. On the other hand, subjects' expectations concerning their ability to use their chosen strategy predicted reported pain reduction in both strategy groups. Among those who chose imagery, absorption in the strategy also correlated significantly with reported pain reduction. These findings underscore the importance of situation-specific expectations in pain reduction. However, they fail to support the hypothesis that success at using imagery strategies for pain reduction is facilitated by general imaginal propensities.