Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1692

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Redelmeier DA, Cialdini RB.
Problems for clinical judgement: 5. Principles of influence in medical practice
CMAJ 2002 Jun 25; 166:(13):1680-4
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/166/13/1680

Abstract:

The basic science of psychology has identified specific ingrained responses that are fundamental elements of human nature, underpin common influence strategies and may apply in medical settings. People feel a sense of obligation to repay a perceived debt. A request becomes more attractive when preceded by a marginally worse request. The drive to act consistently will persist even if demands escalate. Peer pressure is intense when people face uncertainty. The image of the requester influences the attractiveness of a request. Authorities have power beyond their expertise. Opportunities appear more valuable when they appear less available. These 7 responses were discovered decades ago in psychology research and seem intuitively understood in the business world, but they are rarely discussed in medical texts. An awareness of these principles can provide a framework for physicians to help patients change their behaviour and to understand how others in society sometime alter patients’ choices.

Keywords:
Humans Interpersonal Relations* Judgment* Physician-Patient Relations* Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't