A new study reveals information about shared pain and how it can supposedly increase social bonding and promote cooperation among the participating parties. Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia, led by lead author, Brock Bastian, said that their findings could give valuable insight on how and why strong relationships developed among people who have shared painful life experiences together. They also claim that this could also be a key factor in understanding many of the religious, social, and even sexual practices of people in different parts of the world that made use of different principles of pain.
To determine how pain is able to influence social bonding, the researchers conducted a series of experiments observing subjects that were divided into groups, with one group asked to engage in various tasks that involved an element of pain and the other performing painless tasks. After asking these groups to rate statements like "I feel a part of this group of participants" and "I feel a sense of loyalty from the other participants," they found that subjects who performed painful tasks experienced more profound levels of bonding.
In another activity, a different set of subjects were again divided into the "pain" and "painless" groups and where asked to perform tasks that tested their comfort levels. After reducing discomfort in one group and doing the opposite in the other, the subjects were engaged in activity that gauged how they would work as a team afterwards. Results showed that the group of subjects who took part in the painful task were more motivated to work as a team even if the reward for doing so was less.
Bastian said, "Our findings show that pain is a particularly powerful ingredient producing bonding and cooperation between those who share painful experiences. Our findings, therefore, may have implications for understanding social processes apparent in settings such as Boot Camp style physical training program, team sports, executive challenges, and other physically challenging experience shared with others. Sharing a spicy meal with friends they even have positive social consequences!"