Following the controversy sparked when a popular actress claimed on her podcast that diseases are cured by emotions, we analyze how different conceptions of medicine have always been marked by magical thinking, which, in many cases, is divided socially according to class.
In the fragment that became controversial on social media, the actress asserts that illnesses can be cured through emotions, supporting various statements made by a doctor she invited as a guest. Social media users criticized the lack of regulation for spreading these ideas irresponsibly in the media and labeled the claim as classist, since access to alternative therapies is generally associated with the upper middle and upper classes, completely ignoring the difficulties faced by lower-class individuals in accessing basic health services.
Historically, medicine has been conceived under different paradigms over time. Not long ago, the prevailing paradigm was the theory of humors, which held that bodily fluids and their imbalances determined not only the onset of diseases but also personality traits. The scientific method and evidence-based medicine have coexisted with magical thinking. Magical thinking is an anthropological condition that is always present in humans, no matter how rational, informed, or scientific they may be. Its manifestations and the way it is modulated are evidently determined not only by educational level, but also by culture, idiosyncrasy, and society.
In the West, the body is generally conceived as a mind-body duality that interacts but remains somewhat separate. In other traditions, this separation practically does not exist, and the body is seen as an entity inseparable from the mind. However, attributing direct healing powers to emotional management over an illness is dangerous. In subjects that are complex to understand, it is necessary to be very careful with nuances and, above all, with categorical or simplified information, especially regarding the relationship between disease and the body's somatization processes.
The magical thinking manifested in the way these ideas are expressed is present in all social classes. The difference lies in which elements are validated by one class and which are rejected, depending on social status or the prestige conferred by practicing certain healing therapies. Regardless of each group's beliefs, it is necessary for the dissemination of medical messages to be done responsibly and ethically, because any simplified and generalized statement about all types of cases risks not only being misinterpreted but also misinforming people in delicate situations. Magical thinking will always be present to a greater or lesser degree in our human condition; however, it is necessary not only to validate medical knowledge but also the way it is disseminated so that messages are as clear as possible, considering that clinical medicine is practiced individually but based on scientific evidence from studies on groups of people.
— This article was originally published in Spanish by Liliana Martínez Lomelí. Translation generated with AI from the original text.
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