The Expectation Effect

December 15, 2021
The human brain, according to this absorbing book, has a mind of its own. Robson, a former editor at New Scientist and a senior journalist at the BBC, has been studying the brain for years, and he admits that he is still surprised by the way it works. Why do athletes who believe in lucky charms perform better when they carry them? Why do people who believe that age leads to wisdom live longer than people who see getting older as a collection of physical problems? One of the keys to understanding this, writes the author, is the placebo effect, with which most readers will be familiar. The author also describes the "nocebo effect." As he writes, "placebo means 'I shall please, ' and nocebo means 'I shall harm'--and the nocebo response occurs when we believe the body to be under threat. Through the actions of the prediction machine, such expectations will change our physiology so that the mere thought of having a symptom or disease can make us ill." The reasons for the placebo/nocebo effect lie in the brain's tendency to fill in the blanks. Since it can only process a small portion of received information, it makes up the rest with pieces of memory and assumption. Then it generates a response, which might involve releasing needed chemicals into the body. Mental becomes physical; expectations shape reality. Robson delves into the underpinning research, which includes methods to train the brain into positive patterns and processes, but he also emphasizes the limits. You cannot become rich by merely wishing for it, for example, but the brain can be trained into experiencing greater satisfaction with life. Robson's many anecdotes and examples give a human dimension to these ideas. There is no doubt that there is still much to learn about the brain, but the author provides a solid grounding and a useful map on where future paths might lead. Cutting-edge research and effective storytelling create an insightful book on an ever changing field.

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December 20, 2021
Journalist Robson (The Intelligence Trap) takes a comprehensive if dry look at the effects expectations can have on longevity, fitness, intelligence, and stress management. He explains that the brain, which he calls a “prediction machine,” constantly analyzes people’s own beliefs and expectations, and accordingly initiates changes, including physiological ones, as a result. As a counter to the many “pseudoscientific” self-help books about the power of expectations (most notably, The Secret), Robson investigates the “expectation effect” through peer-reviewed experiments and studies. In one, WWII soldiers who were told they were receiving a painkiller prior to surgery were actually given a saline injection; the placebo had a 90% efficacy rate. Elsewhere, the author cites studies of people who imagined they were lifting a heavy object and saw an 11% boost in their strength, and of people who have a sunny perspective on aging tending to live 7.5 years longer than those who have a pessimist outlook. Robson offers advice at the end of each chapter to help readers make the most of their lives by changing their expectations (for example, using visualization strategies to reduce anxiety), but while there are plenty of valuable takeaways, the bland prose doesn’t do the book any favors. Still, it’s a fine place to start for readers interested in the power of the mind.