"How obsessive are dentists?"--A personality styles & disorder inventory based prospective, controlled study.
Thomas Gerhard Wolf1, Valerie Fabienne Sonja Speyer2, Burkhard Peter3
1Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland; Department of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Journal of Dentistry
|July 9, 2022
Summary
Dentist personality traits significantly differ from the general population and psychotherapists. Specific traits like conscientiousness and ambition are crucial for effective dentist-patient relationships and treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dentistry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Dentist-patient relationships are vital for treatment success.
- Understanding dentist personality traits can optimize patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate typical personality styles of dentists.
- To analyze the influence of these traits on dentist-patient interactions.
Main Methods:
- Online survey using the Personality Styles and Disorder Inventory (PSDI-S) short form.
- Comparison of 580 German dentists (DENT) with 1,027 psychotherapists (DACH) and a normative sample (NORM).
Main Results:
- Dentists showed significant differences in 10/14 personality styles compared to the normative sample and 13/14 compared to psychotherapists.
- Female dentists exhibited distinct personality styles compared to male colleagues in 7/14 categories.
Conclusions:
- Key personality styles like conscientiousness, ambition, and optimism are essential for successful dentist-patient relationships.
- Dentist personality influences treatment choices, delivery, cost, and patient perception.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
135
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle...
135
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
206
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
206
01:26Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant
169
Narcissistic and avoidant personality traits represent two contrasting patterns of behavior that significantly influence social interactions and self-perception. While individuals with narcissistic disorder seek admiration and validation, individuals with avoidant personality disorder withdraw due to fear of judgment.
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...
169
01:22Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
164
Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
164
01:20Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
164
Schizotypal personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder are two distinct psychological conditions classified under personality disorders, each characterized by unique behavioral patterns and social difficulties. Both disorders significantly affect interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being, leading to social isolation and frustration.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
164
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
448
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
448