The phenomenon of pain is still very puzzling. It is not a purely physical phenomenon. Overwhelming research evidence suggests various psychological variables affecting the pain experience. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of some promising cognitive-behavioral approaches to the control of pain. Anxiety clearly plays a role in attenuating or intensifying the subjective experience of discomfort. However, the exact nature of the role played by anxiety and how best to influence it are unknown. Nonspecific factors such as expectation, suggestion, and other so-called "placebo" effects can greatly influence pain. Cognitive variables such as distraction, imagery manipulation, and modeling influences are also therapeutically productive. Their superiority over nonspecific influences has not been demonstrated, however. Relaxation and biofeedback techniques may offer some answers to problems involving specific types of pain, but a comprehensive approach stressing self-control skills seems to be the direction to take in future pain research. (Author)