News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Is Psychology Going to Cincinnati? by inglor_cz on Friday October 11, 2024 @09:40AM (#41809411)
"some sort of paranormal force in which people can unconsciously fix their own bodies through psionic abilities."

I think you are being very dismissive there.

After all, the placebo effect happens in your body, which your mind inhabits. These are not two separate systems interacting by some magical means. This is one system with various subsystems that interact all the time.

Concrete mechanism of the placebo effect is still unknown, but the observation that your immune system can be influenced by your mental state isn't in itself magical. Our bodies respond to all sorts of mental states. We get red in face when embarassed, and sometimes must run to the toilet when scared etc.

All this "psionic" "paranormal" label stuff would only apply if someone could do it to other people without them even knowing.

Re:Is Psychology Going to Cincinnati? by mike_hearn on Friday October 11, 2024 @12:20PM (#41810838)
Sure, but I think most people would place very hard limits on what you can do to just think yourself better. Your mind can't cure cancer, eliminate viruses, regrow arms etc. Yet we routinely design clinical trials as if it can. And ... nobody seems to think this is in any way strange!