In the show, “How I Met Your Mother” a group of five friends in their twenties share memories, experiences and jokes while each embarking upon their own unique journeys through early adulthood. In the ninth and final season of the show, the eighteenth episode revolves around the wedding day of two of the main characters. Barney Stinson and Robin Scherbatsky are getting married, but Barney, the opportunist, high energy groom is completely incapacitated from his previous night out. With wedding pictures just two hours away, Robin and the rest of the friends get together and realize that the only way to get Barney on his feet is to create the magical hangover cure that Barney claims his Great Uncle invented. After a long journey they realize that
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The labeling effect explains why patients often accept name brand prescriptions rather than generic prescriptions that do the exact same things. The labeling effect can distract from the placebo effect, but it can also be very beneficial as a complementary force of positive deception. Daniel Moermann gives a great example of a study in which women given headache curing placebos greatly preferred the brand labeled pill over the generic labeled pill despite the fact that neither actually cured their headaches (Daniel Moermann). Barney harnesses the labeling effect in this episode of “How I Met Your Mother” by not only labeling his drink “Stinson’s Hangover Fixer-Elixir” but by creating a distracting backstory, claiming the drink was created by his Great Uncle Barnbert Stinsonheimer in the “Too Many Manhattans Project” that FDR organized. Barney’s friends obviously do not believe his outlandish backstory, but they still trust the effectiveness of Barney’s drink. Barney clearly does not care about the technicalities of whether or not he is using the placebo effect or the labeling effect he just cares about making his friends feel better. The labeling effect is important to note when discussing the placebo effect, but it does not completely override its effects. Researchers including Daniel Moermann may argue that the success of Barney’s drink …show more content…
The hangovers are symbolic of the emotional pain that each character had experienced. Each of Barney’s friends was in need of companionship, encouragement, and a hangover cure. They needed more than a hangover cure to make it through their days, they needed Barney. This need is what allows the placebo effect to work so well. It is what allows placebo analgesia to be fulfilled, it allows the friends to overlook Barney’s ridiculous product labeling and trust Barney. Their need for Barney to be there with them demonstrates how powerful relationships, trust, and confidence can all be and further explains why the placebo effect can often be so effective in these situations. Complex scientific journals and academic literature often can overlook the power of personal relationships when looking too far in-depth into the biological and psychological reactions in their studies. In the case of the placebo effect in this show, it is important to note that it is not about the cure for the hangover, it is about the friendships and relationships that drive the “Stinson’s Hangover-Fixer Elixir” to its success. The human race truly is dependent on human interaction and in the end, it is the close personal relationships between Barney and his friends that allow the placebo effect to work its
The labeling effect explains why patients often accept name brand prescriptions rather than generic prescriptions that do the exact same things. The labeling effect can distract from the placebo effect, but it can also be very beneficial as a complementary force of positive deception. Daniel Moermann gives a great example of a study in which women given headache curing placebos greatly preferred the brand labeled pill over the generic labeled pill despite the fact that neither actually cured their headaches (Daniel Moermann). Barney harnesses the labeling effect in this episode of “How I Met Your Mother” by not only labeling his drink “Stinson’s Hangover Fixer-Elixir” but by creating a distracting backstory, claiming the drink was created by his Great Uncle Barnbert Stinsonheimer in the “Too Many Manhattans Project” that FDR organized. Barney’s friends obviously do not believe his outlandish backstory, but they still trust the effectiveness of Barney’s drink. Barney clearly does not care about the technicalities of whether or not he is using the placebo effect or the labeling effect he just cares about making his friends feel better. The labeling effect is important to note when discussing the placebo effect, but it does not completely override its effects. Researchers including Daniel Moermann may argue that the success of Barney’s drink …show more content…
The hangovers are symbolic of the emotional pain that each character had experienced. Each of Barney’s friends was in need of companionship, encouragement, and a hangover cure. They needed more than a hangover cure to make it through their days, they needed Barney. This need is what allows the placebo effect to work so well. It is what allows placebo analgesia to be fulfilled, it allows the friends to overlook Barney’s ridiculous product labeling and trust Barney. Their need for Barney to be there with them demonstrates how powerful relationships, trust, and confidence can all be and further explains why the placebo effect can often be so effective in these situations. Complex scientific journals and academic literature often can overlook the power of personal relationships when looking too far in-depth into the biological and psychological reactions in their studies. In the case of the placebo effect in this show, it is important to note that it is not about the cure for the hangover, it is about the friendships and relationships that drive the “Stinson’s Hangover-Fixer Elixir” to its success. The human race truly is dependent on human interaction and in the end, it is the close personal relationships between Barney and his friends that allow the placebo effect to work its