Freeze! Social modulation of defensive responses in a threatening, pain-relevant context

Social context affects an individual’s experience, interpretation, communication and appraisal of pain -> What about defensive responses to pain? Freezing is a defensive response to threat characterized by reduced body motion, a tense body posture and decreased heart rate Unpleasant films and social threat lead to freezing-like responses in humans Anticipation of pain leads to freezing in animals Social threat leads to inhibition of painful facial expression