Toward a Unifying Definition of Psychological Pain

作者：Esther L. Meerwijk, Sandra J. Weiss · 发表于：Journal of Loss and Trauma · 年份：2011 · DOI：10.1080/15325024.2011.572044 · 被引用次数：112 · 研究领域：Pain Management and Placebo Effect、Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology、Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Loss and trauma are often associated with psychological pain. However, a generally accepted understanding and clear definition of what is constituted by psychological pain do not exist. Morse and colleagues' criteria (definition, characteristics, boundaries, preconditions, outcomes) were used to analyze related concepts (suffering, psychache, emotional pain, and psychic pain) that could contribute to a definition of psychological pain. The analysis indicated that psychological pain may best be defined as a lasting, unsustainable, and unpleasant feeling resulting from negative appraisal of an inability or deficiency of the self. This negative self-appraisal is typically brought on by loss of someone or something, or failure to achieve something that is intimately linked to core psychological needs.