You Get What You Pay For

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dan
• Ariely
• Predictably
• Irrational

[Mishkafofer]

@paulpembroke You just saying that you are not susceptible to placebo affect.

Also Siegmund Froid said that Psychiatrist should charge full fee for mental treatment, i guessed he knew on some level that paying a full price will beneficial to a mental patient.

[richardcadbury]

I seem to have been unclear.

I really meant the three points as potentially applying to anybody. But I see now that I have kinda proposed them as if asking you specifically.

And certainly, they are highly speculative...

[paulpembroke]

#2 - nope, I have never taken classes in pharmacology but I have taken organic chemistry #3 - Pure speculation on your part and quite incorrect. I can attest that there is no real difference between brand-name Benadryl and say, 'Target' brand, which is basically the chemical equivalent of benadryl but at about 40% of the price. They are both chemically the same thing and work effectively to treat seasonal allergies.

[richardcadbury]

I'm sure it depends on the individual:

1. Are they more susceptible to the placebo effect anyway?

2. Perhaps a pharmacologist with a good understanding would be less susceptible, than, say, a poet, who might somehow expect there to be at least some sublte difference?

3. Perhaps the feeling of somehow "beating the system" might itself contribute to your feeling better?

[paulpembroke]

Prof. Dan, I have to admit I buy OTC generic equivalents all the time but I do not expect them to work less effectively because, chemically, they are the same thing as the brand-name drug. Many of the costs attached to brand-name drugs are associated with advertising and not with quality per se.