Critically evaluate the idea that pain is simply a response to a painful stimulus. Pain Essay: Unit 3 There are different definitions of pain. The most commonly accepted definition seems to be "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience resulting from, or described in terms of, actual or potential tissue damage." The most appropriate definition of pain in clinical practice was suggested by Margo McCaffrey in (1968). His definition was “whatever the person experiencing it says, it exists every time he says it.” Pain is an unpleasant sensation that is carried to the brain by sensory neurons. Symptoms of discontent act on potential injuries to the body. While saying that pain is more than a feeling or the tangible awareness of pain. It also includes the subjective perception and understanding of discomfort. Perception allows us to obtain information about the location of pain, its intensity and a little about its nature. The mechanism of pain perception, that is, how do we feel pain? If we look at Mc Caffery's definition of pain, it indicates that pain is understood and felt completely differently in each individual case. This definition also suggests that painful experiences truly depend on the person experiencing them and that no one else is completely capable of knowing or understanding how that pain makes them feel. In his definition, Mc Caffery does not actually state or explain what pain actually is, what causes any discomfort, or how or why pain occurs. The multiple conscious and unconscious reactions to both perception and sensation, as well as any emotional recognition, also provide a more defined concept. There are many reasons why pain can occur...... middle of paper ......publishingPrentice Hall Publishing LTD, NYRamachandran. VS and Blakeslee. S (1998) Ghosts in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind. William Morrow Publishing. NYhttp://www.emotionalprocessing.org.uk/Chronic%20pain/Cognitive%20behavioral%20model%20of%20pain.htmRDSU/NHS TRUST (2003)Accessed 02/17/10http://www.emotionalprocessing.org.uk /Chronic%20pain/History%20of%20chronic%20pain.htmRDSU/NHS TRUST (2003)Accessed 02/19/10http://www.pain-management-info.com/definition-of-pain.htmplanet cognition (2007) )Consulted on 02/09/2010http://www.pain.com/go/default/pain.com (2007)Consulted on 02/10/2010http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/Purdue Parma LTD (2010)Consulted 18/02/2010http://www.emotionalprocessing.org.uk/Chronic%20pain/History%20of%20chronic%20pain.htmDorset RDSU (2003)Consulted on 16/02/2010