The Sociophysiology of Caring in the Doctor-patient Relationship
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2002
Abstract
The emotional investment required to construct a caring doctor-patient relationship can be justified on humane grounds. Can it also be justified as a direct physiologic intervention? Two lines of evidence point in this direction. People in an empathic relationship exhibit a correlation of indicators of autonomic activity. This occurs between speakers and responsive listeners, members of a coherent group, and bonded pairs of higher social animals. Furthermore, the experience of feeling cared about in a relationship reduces the secretion of stress hormones and shifts the neuroendocrine system toward homeostasis. Because the social engagement of emotions is simultaneously the social engagement of the physiologic substrate of those emotions, the process has been labeled sociophysiology. This process can influence the health of both parties in the doctor-patient relationship, and may be relevant to third parties.
Recommended Citation
Adler, Herbert M., "The Sociophysiology of Caring in the Doctor-patient Relationship" (2002). Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers. Paper 18.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/fmfp/18
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. Volume 17, Issue 11, November 2002, Pages 883–890. The published version is available at . DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10640.x. Copyright © Wiley-Blackwell.