How power shapes behavior: Evidence from physicians

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Schwab, Stephen D.; Singh, Manasvini
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas at San Antonio; Carnegie Mellon University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-12658
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adl3835
• 发表日期: 2024-05-17
• 页码: 802-808
• 关键词: DECISION-MAKING; sexual-harassment; authority; military; HEALTH; diversity; DISCRIMINATION; disparities; ECONOMICS; benefits

摘要

Power-the asymmetric control of valued resources-affects most human interactions. Although power is challenging to study with real-world data, a distinctive dataset allowed us to do so within the critical context of doctor-patient relationships. Using 1.5 million quasi-random assignments in US military emergency departments, we examined how power differentials between doctor and patient (measured by using differences in military ranks) affect physician behavior. Our findings indicate that power confers nontrivial advantages: High-power patients (who outrank their physician) receive more resources and have better outcomes than equivalently ranked low-power patients. Patient promotions even increase physician effort. Furthermore, low-power patients suffer if their physician concurrently cares for a high-power patient. Doctor-patient concordance on race and sex also matters. Overall, power-driven variation in behavior can harm the most vulnerable populations in health care settings.