PAG: Your Tolerance

Let’s take a look at an imaginary test – Test X – that has four line item components:

Test X – Date	Type	Rating	Duration
Component 1	Sharp Sting	3	5 sec.
Component 2	Grinding	4	10 min.
Component 3	Shock	6	1 sec.
Component 4	Dull Ache	3	3 hours

Which of these line item components do you fear the most?  Which would you prefer if you had to choose one?  Is component 2 better than component 3 because it has a lower pain rating, or is component 3 better than component 2 because it has a much shorter duration?  What about component 2 vs component 4?  What if I tell you that component 2 is drilling to fill a cavity and component 4 is a headache?  Does that influence your perception on which is worse?



The fact is that all of this information does influence your perception.  It helps you put things in perspective, to mentally prepare, and to work through the process.  A dentist’s drill may be one of your least favorite things, but wouldn’t you be happy to know it was going to end in 10 minutes instead of 30?  Understanding and breaking down a test into its component pieces can reduce anxiety – a lot.  As it turns out, knowledge really is power.