Symptoms perception

Question 1

Why is attention capacity important in recognising differences in perception of pain

Answer 1

People with an unstimulating environment will have more attentional capacity to devote to body scanning, and noticing symptoms therefore groups like those who live alone/unemployed report more symptoms and there is less competition placed on their attentional capacity so they are more likely to detect changes in their internal states

Question 2

How can peoples beliefs in symptoms affect their perceptions

Answer 2

People influenced by medical professionals, media, peers, past experiences so mights misinterpret their symptoms (psoriasis vs eczema)

Question 3

What can affect people beliefs about their symptoms

Answer 3

Mismatch of symptoms (sore throat for asthma?)
stress increases detection due to hypervigilance
low mood increases detection

Question 4

How does stress affect detection of symptoms

Answer 4

stress increases detection of symptoms due to hypervigilance

Question 5

How do heuristics affect delaying help seeking

Answer 5

“im just getting old” mentality means people down play symptoms which may be important