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Shedding Light on the Placebo Effect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2025

Fabio Lombardi
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Abstract

The placebo effect is a genuine psychobiological phenomenon in which the expectation of improvement can lead to actual changes, including alterations in perception, behaviour and physiological responses. This article explores this phenomenon by dispelling common misconceptions and highlighting its significance for critical thinking.

Keywords

placebo effectbeliefexpectationssuggestionmind–body interactionmisconceptions
Type
Research Article
Information
Think , Volume 24 , Issue 70 , Summer 2025 , pp. 43 - 48
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Royal Institute of Philosophy.

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References

Further Reading

Frisaldi, Elisa, et al., ‘Placebo and Nocebo Effects and Mechanisms Associated with Pharmacological Interventions: An Umbrella Review’, BMJ open 13.10 (2023).10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077243CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed