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Related Experiment Videos

'Right' way to 'do' illness? Thinking critically about positive thinking.

C McGrath1, C F C Jordens, K Montgomery

  • 1Centre for Values Ethics and the Law in Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. catherinem@med.usyd.edu.au

Internal Medicine Journal
|September 9, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Positive thinking is often encouraged in healthcare, but its risks are rarely examined. Health professionals should be cautious when promoting positive thinking to patients and caregivers.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Sociology
  • Health Psychology
  • Bioethics

Background:

  • The societal expectation to 'be positive' is prevalent, particularly in healthcare settings.
  • Positive thinking is often framed as a moral duty and a belief system beneficial for coping with illness.
  • The potential negative aspects and risks associated with positive thinking are seldom explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the meanings, expectations, and outcomes of positive thinking in healthcare.
  • To investigate the under-examined risks associated with the injunction to 'be positive'.
  • To provide guidance for health professionals on managing positive thinking in patient care.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical analysis of the concept of positive thinking in health contexts.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Exploration of ethical considerations and potential harms of promoting positive thinking.
  • Case study analysis of patient and caregiver experiences with positive thinking expectations.

    • Main Results:

    • Positive thinking is presented as a means for emotional coping and potential biological benefit in illness.
    • The study identifies significant risks and potential harms associated with the pressure to maintain positivity.
    • Current practices infrequently question the assumptions and consequences of positive thinking mandates.

    Conclusions:

    • Health professionals should exercise caution when advising patients and caregivers about positive thinking.
    • The potential negative impacts of positive thinking, including guilt and self-blame, require careful consideration.
    • A more nuanced approach is needed to address the complex role of positive thinking in illness experiences.