Predicted that accurate expectations about the physical sensations to be experienced will reduce the distress caused by painful stimuli. Expectations were manipulated by giving male undergraduates a description of the sensations to expect from ischemic pain or a control message which described the procedure used to produce ischemic pain. In Exp. I and II 68 Ss rated separately the intensity of physical sensations and the degree of distress caused by the sensations. Ss who received a description of the sensations had more accurate expectations about and reported lower distress during the painful experience than those who received a description of the procedure. The different information did not significantly affect (a) levels of distress anticipated before experiencing the pain (Exp. III with 24 Ss); (b) perceptions of the intensity of the physical sensations and the sensations Ss reported experiencing; and (c) reported fear, helplessness, or perceptions of being in danger. Tests of the hypothesis in real-life threatening situations are reviewed. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)