n and Feist, 2000, Polnik 1999, Goleman and Gurin,1993). Melzack and Wall suggested that when pain signals first reach the nervous system,the pain messages are sent the thalamus and the ‘gate’ opens to allow the painmessages to be sent to superior centers in the brain(Brannon and Feist,2000).However, the gate may remain closed if neurons come in contact with painsignals , the neurons has the ability to overpower the pain signals which results in thegate remaining closed(Brannon and Feist, 2000). Pain signals can also be stopped ifthe hypothetical gate remains closed as our natural painkiller, endophins, blocks thepain signals from getting to the brain(Goleman and Gurin , 1993). Melzack and Wall(cited in Bromley and Adams ,1998) highlights that previous memory of how theprior painful situation was handled , supportive support members, positive thinking ofpain , distraction, prior conditioning , cultural values, boredom, stress, negativethinking, poor pain coping skill may allow the gate to open or to remain closed byaffecting the central control system.This concept can be explained by Beecher (citedin Brannon and Feist, 2000) who noticed that the soldiers during World War IIreported slight pain even though they had sever damage to tissue due to the battle.These soldiers had positive thinking and were distracted because injury meant thatthe soldiers would be allowed to go home or sustain no further injury ( Beecher citedBrannon and Feist , 2000).The gate control theory states that non painful stimulus such as distraction competeswith the painful impulse to reach the brain. This rivalary limits the number ofimpulses that can be transmitted in the brain by creating the hypothetical gate(Plotnik ,1999). The Gate control theory is the first and the only theory to take intoaccount psychological factors of pain experiences.Experiences of pain are influenced by many physical and psychological factors suchas beliefs , prior experience...
