Q
Why do we experience the placebo effect?
A
Expert Answer
Placebos work through expectation (believing treatment helps), conditioning (associating treatment with relief), and social context (therapeutic ritual). Brain imaging shows placebos activate genuine neurochemical pathways (endorphins, dopamine). The effect is real, not imaginary.
Key Insight
Placebos work through expectation (believing treatment helps), conditioning (associating treatment with relief), and social context (therapeutic ritual).
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