The Pill That Works Even When You Know It's Fake
3/13/20261 hr 12 min
Why do placebo effects work, even when patients know that they're taking a sugar pill? How do "nocebo" effects work, and why do some people hold onto beliefs that they suspect might bring them pain and suffering? What do the major world religions have to teach secular athletes and workers about the power of belief, and what does the psychological research tell us about the benefits of prayer, even for those who don't believe in God? Nir Eyal, bestselling author of the new book Beyond Belief, joins the show to talk about the research behind how our beliefs shape our lives. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@PlainEnglishwithDerekThompson If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Nir Eyal Producer: Devon Baroldi Today’s open is adapted from Derek’s Substack essay “If Placebos Work So Well, Why Not Prescribe Sugar Pills For Everything?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Derek Thompson· Host0:34
In 1995, a 29-year-old construction worker arrived at an English hospital with a six-inch nail through his boot. He was screaming in pain. Every attempt to extract the nail just made the screams louder. Finally, the team sedated him and removed the boot. They looked at the nail, no blood. They looked at the foot, no wound. The nail had pierced nothing but the empty space between his toes. The physical injury wasn't real, only the pain was. You've probably heard of the placebo effect. You take a sugar pill and your insomnia goes away. But the effect can also work in the opposite direction, a nocebo effect. The expectation of relief or pain can create its own relief or pain. This