Wouldn’t people be projecting their desires and hopes that they will receive the outcomes they want onto the placebo and then it manifests as a “sort of positive” outcome? Sorry, I am already aware placebo is something that is supposed to be ineffective yet it still has some sort of positive effect, it’s just that I’m kind of confused.
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The placebo effect is absolutely a real effect, and doesn’t really have to do with what you want when something is supposed to be ineffective. It all has to do with your *perception* of what is supposed to happen. So, if you’re told you’ve been given painkillers, then the placebo effect will really dull pain. Conversely, if you’re told you’ve been given pain enhancers, then the pain will really be enhanced, despite you not *wanting* to feel pain.
In clinical trials, we can never remove the placebo effect, so we have to measure the effect that happens *in addition* to whatever placebo might be in place. That’s why you always hear “this drug performed 40% better than placebo”.
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