A recent study conducted by researchers at Ruhr University Bochum has found that pain originating from within the body, known as visceral pain, is perceived as more unpleasant than pain caused by external factors, such as burning a finger. The research also suggests that this type of pain leads to stronger empathy responses, particularly when individuals imagine their loved ones experiencing it.
The study involved 30 healthy participants who had been in committed relationships for at least three months. Over four sessions, participants were exposed to both heat-induced somatic pain on the skin and pressure-induced visceral pain. They evaluated these experiences from their own perspective and imagined how both a loved one and an unknown person would perceive the same types of pain. Six days later, they repeated these evaluations through imagination exercises and online ratings.
Dr. Milena Pertz from the Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology led the research team. "The study shows that interoceptive, visceral pain induces stronger cognitive, affective, and empathic responses than does somatic pain. This is the case both from one's own perspective as well as when the participants imagined the pain for others," Pertz said.
Participants consistently rated visceral pain as more intense and unpleasant compared to somatic (heat) pain. They also reported higher levels of empathic concern and personal distress when considering either themselves or others—especially loved ones—experiencing visceral discomfort.
According to the researchers, these findings provide insight into how internal bodily threats can shape social behaviors like empathy. The results may inform future studies on what predicts empathic reactions in patients with chronic or acute pain conditions, as well as among caregivers and healthcare professionals who support them.
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft funded this project under number 316803389 - SFB 1280.
