Interpersonal processes in dentistry. Part I

An investigation of dentists' perceptions of their patients found that they were markedly similar to each other and to the perceptions other professional helpers have of their patients. It is suggested that this concurrence of perceptions reflects similar concerns about patients, in particular likeability, manageability, and prognosis. It has been established that several everyday person-perception processes work against forming favourable perception of patients and that this reduces the helpers' motivation to help them. In common with other professional helpers, these person-perception processes were evident in the perceptions of the dentists in this sample.