What's Up Docs? Does what we believe about our health affect it?
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Dec 2, 2025 Explore the powerful impact of beliefs on our bodily experiences and health perceptions. Discover how preconceptions filter senses, shaping pain and symptom interpretation. Learn why false beliefs can be so persistent due to emotional and social ties. Delve into the intriguing world of placebo and nocebo effects, and how our beliefs motivate lifestyle choices. Reflect on the journey of changing one's identity through self-signalling, and gain insights into balancing truth-seeking with personal growth.
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Personal Slip Into Superstitions
- Chris describes noticing superstition and lightweight wellness claims gaining traction in his mind and family.
- He finds flimsy but seductive health claims persuasive despite conflicting evidence.
Beliefs Are Maps And Social Signals
- Beliefs serve as both maps of reality and social signals that show which group you belong to.
- Professor Ryan McKay says beliefs can resist contrary evidence because they protect social ties and emotional needs.
Perception Is Prediction
- Perception of body and symptoms is a running best-guess combining incoming sensory data and prior expectations.
- Strong preconceptions (e.g., a fragile heart) shape how minor sensations become alarming symptoms.