Doctors are seen as Godlike: Moral typecasting in medicine

Doctors are generally thought of as very intelligent and capable. This perception has upsides-doctors are afforded respect and esteem-but it may also have downsides, such as neglecting the mental and physical health of physicians. Two studies examine how Americans "typecast" doctors as Godlike "thinkers" who help others, rather than as vulnerable "feelers" who might themselves need help.

Study 1 examines how a representative sample of Americans (N = 681) view the mental capacities of doctors compared to other targets (including patients, other workers, and God). Result show that people see physicians as highly capable of the thinking-related capacities of thinking, remembering, self-control, and planning (equal to that of God), but less capable of the feeling-related capacities of experiencing fear, pain, embarrassment, and hunger. Study 2 (N = 451) examines whether physician typecasting impacts other domains. People believe that, relative to the average working professional, physicians are better able to ignore physical and mental health issues, and physician job performance is less impacted by bodily and emotional limitations.

We discuss implications for medical practice, especially the growing epidemic of physician burnout.