ABSTRACT
If we liken models of pain to facial displays of emotion, it becomes readily apparent that many expressions have evolved. Indeed, over the years there have been a large number of models proffered by individuals from varying intellectual traditions. Most of these models can be grouped within one of several general categories—traditional biomedical, psychodynamic, and biopsychosocial. The intent of all models, without exception, has been to address the enduring questions of “What is pain?” and “How do we best alleviate pain and the suffering associated with it?” The primary purpose of this chapter is to gain insight into answers to these questions by exploring various iterations of the biopsychosocial approach and related empirical literature.
