When it comes to our patients, often reality isn’t that important; perception is what matters. Consider whether patients trust us enough to use the medication we prescribe. A key factor that determines their satisfaction with us, their trust in us, and, therefore, their trust in the medication we prescribe is whether they think we care about them. Whether we care about them or not has no bearing on their behavior. Of course, we care about our patients. But all the caring in the world won’t get them to trust us if they don’t realize we care about them.
The issue of perception trumping reality is all around us. Consider the protests happening at National Football League games. Athletes are taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest racism and injustice in America. By taking a knee, they are, in essence, standing for our flag and the values it represents in the strongest possible terms. But that’s not how many other Americans perceive it; many perceive these protests as an affront to our Nation, to the flag, to veterans, even to the veterans who died to assure people the liberty that these athletes are exercising.
Americans who speak out against these protests may honor the same values of equality and justice that the athletes do, may believe that our flag represents those values, and may feel quite strongly that taking a knee during the National Anthem is disrespectful to our Nation and the values it upholds. But other Americans who agree with the athletes may look at those who speak out against kneeling during the National Anthem and only perceive what they see as racists.
The reality is caring, well-meaning people are on 2 sides of an issue. Both sides share a belief in equality and justice, yet that reality is lost, leaving each side thinking the other is misguided. Perception is a powerful thing. Perception is more important than reality in shaping our thinking. Whether in clinic or in the world of politics, religion, or any interpersonal relationship, we should be mindful that people’s perceptions may not match reality. We should take pains to understand the viewpoints of others and make sure that we—completely unambiguously—leave people with perceptions that match our reality.
Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Editor
Dr Feldman is with the Center for Dermatology Research and the Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.
When it comes to our patients, often reality isn’t that important; perception is what matters. Consider whether patients trust us enough to use the medication we prescribe. A key factor that determines their satisfaction with us, their trust in us, and, therefore, their trust in the medication we prescribe is whether they think we care about them. Whether we care about them or not has no bearing on their behavior. Of course, we care about our patients. But all the caring in the world won’t get them to trust us if they don’t realize we care about them.
The issue of perception trumping reality is all around us. Consider the protests happening at National Football League games. Athletes are taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest racism and injustice in America. By taking a knee, they are, in essence, standing for our flag and the values it represents in the strongest possible terms. But that’s not how many other Americans perceive it; many perceive these protests as an affront to our Nation, to the flag, to veterans, even to the veterans who died to assure people the liberty that these athletes are exercising.
Americans who speak out against these protests may honor the same values of equality and justice that the athletes do, may believe that our flag represents those values, and may feel quite strongly that taking a knee during the National Anthem is disrespectful to our Nation and the values it upholds. But other Americans who agree with the athletes may look at those who speak out against kneeling during the National Anthem and only perceive what they see as racists.
The reality is caring, well-meaning people are on 2 sides of an issue. Both sides share a belief in equality and justice, yet that reality is lost, leaving each side thinking the other is misguided. Perception is a powerful thing. Perception is more important than reality in shaping our thinking. Whether in clinic or in the world of politics, religion, or any interpersonal relationship, we should be mindful that people’s perceptions may not match reality. We should take pains to understand the viewpoints of others and make sure that we—completely unambiguously—leave people with perceptions that match our reality.
Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Editor
Dr Feldman is with the Center for Dermatology Research and the Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.
When it comes to our patients, often reality isn’t that important; perception is what matters. Consider whether patients trust us enough to use the medication we prescribe. A key factor that determines their satisfaction with us, their trust in us, and, therefore, their trust in the medication we prescribe is whether they think we care about them. Whether we care about them or not has no bearing on their behavior. Of course, we care about our patients. But all the caring in the world won’t get them to trust us if they don’t realize we care about them.
The issue of perception trumping reality is all around us. Consider the protests happening at National Football League games. Athletes are taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest racism and injustice in America. By taking a knee, they are, in essence, standing for our flag and the values it represents in the strongest possible terms. But that’s not how many other Americans perceive it; many perceive these protests as an affront to our Nation, to the flag, to veterans, even to the veterans who died to assure people the liberty that these athletes are exercising.
Americans who speak out against these protests may honor the same values of equality and justice that the athletes do, may believe that our flag represents those values, and may feel quite strongly that taking a knee during the National Anthem is disrespectful to our Nation and the values it upholds. But other Americans who agree with the athletes may look at those who speak out against kneeling during the National Anthem and only perceive what they see as racists.
The reality is caring, well-meaning people are on 2 sides of an issue. Both sides share a belief in equality and justice, yet that reality is lost, leaving each side thinking the other is misguided. Perception is a powerful thing. Perception is more important than reality in shaping our thinking. Whether in clinic or in the world of politics, religion, or any interpersonal relationship, we should be mindful that people’s perceptions may not match reality. We should take pains to understand the viewpoints of others and make sure that we—completely unambiguously—leave people with perceptions that match our reality.
Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Editor
Dr Feldman is with the Center for Dermatology Research and the Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.
