(a) To investigate the influence of previous pain experience and familial pain tolerance models on postsurgical pain; (b) to investigate the effect of personality traits on vicarious learning. Design: Before surgery, the patients completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) personality tests. They also underwent a semi-structured interview to collect information on familial pain tolerance models and their own pain history. Postthoracotomy pain was assessed by measuring its latency (h), intensity (VAS 0–10), and duration (days). Setting: A unique protocol to minimize the use of pain killers and encourage the adoption of coping strategies to face postsurgical pain was in use in the Thoracic Department. Patients: A total of 126 patients who were free from chronic pain and undergoing thoracic surgery entered the study. Outcome: Most patients recalled a history of surgical or medical pain and good pain tolerance models in their original family. An almost equal number denied pain or had good pain tolerance models in their present family. Only a few patients reported poor tolerance models. Results: Patients who had previously been subjected to medical pain experienced a greater intensity of pain. In addition, those who had reported poor tolerance in the original family experienced both earlier and more severe pain. Some patients' personality traits were related to familial pain tolerance models. Conclusions: We conclude that knowledge of an individual's pain history and familial pain tolerance models can be useful in predicting and managing post-surgical pain.