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Published on: July 7, 2023
Exploring magical thinking in the context of pain
Birgit Heckemann1,2, Lionel Snell3, Mark I Johnson4
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Frontiers in Pain Research (Lausanne, Switzerland)
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Magical thinking, involving symbolic meaning-making and acceptance of broader connectivity, can be a valuable resource for individuals managing chronic pain. It aids in psychological and social adjustment to complex life experiences.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Humanities
- Pain Management
Background:
- Magical thinking is often dismissed as irrational or pathologized.
- Chronic pain presents complex psychological and social challenges for individuals.
- Existing approaches to pain management may not fully address the symbolic and imaginative needs of patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore magical thinking as a potentially valuable personal orientation and resource for people living with chronic pain.
- To examine how magical thinking facilitates meaning-making, emotional regulation, and relational connection in the context of chronic pain.
- To investigate the presence and potential utility of magical thinking within psychology, medicine, and pain care.
Main Methods:
- A reflective, interpretive, and conversational methodology was employed.
- Collaboration between a pain scientist, a nurse researcher, and a writer-practitioner of magical thinking.
- Focus on symbolic meaning-making acts, excluding magical superstitions.
Main Results:
- Magical thinking can serve as a personal orientation and resource for individuals with chronic pain.
- It enables symbolic meaning-making, supporting emotional regulation and connection with self, others, and the world.
- Traces of magical thinking are present in psychology and medicine, suggesting potential applications in pain care.
Conclusions:
- Magical thinking, defined by symbolic meaning-making and acceptance of interconnectedness, offers a valuable framework for understanding and coping with chronic pain.
- Its potential to support emotional regulation and enhance relational dynamics warrants further investigation in pain care settings.
- Integrating symbolic and imaginative approaches, like those found in magical thinking, could enrich current pain management strategies.
Keywords:
chronic paincoping strategiesillness narrativemagical thinkingmeaning-makingmind body connectionpatient experiencesubjective experience of painMore Related Videos
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