Which method involves diverting attention away from pain or injury?

Attention diversion is a method that focuses on shifting an individual’s awareness away from the sensation of pain or discomfort. By directing thoughts toward different stimuli or engaging in enjoyable activities, this technique helps individuals cope with and manage their perception of pain, making it feel less intense or overwhelming. This approach is based on the psychological principle that attention is a limited resource—by concentrating on pleasant or distracting experiences, one can effectively lessen the experience of pain.

Imagery, while also a powerful tool, typically involves visualizing positive outcomes or scenarios rather than necessarily diverting attention away from pain. Mindfulness meditation focuses on maintaining awareness of the present moment, including accepting sensations without judgment, rather than actively diverting attention. Progressive relaxation emphasizes systematically relaxing muscle groups to reduce tension, which may help alleviate pain, but it primarily targets physical relaxation rather than distraction from pain itself. Thus, attention diversion specifically highlights the active process of redirecting focus to minimize the perception of pain.