Book chapter
Clinical Empathy as Emotional Labor in Medical Work 1
Sociology Through Emotions, pp 165-186
2025
Abstract
In this chapter, Alexandra Vinson and Kelly Underman argue that the norm for physicians' conduct has evolved from detached concern (i.e., downplaying emotions and focusing on the science of diagnosis and treatment) to clinical empathy. Medical schools increasingly instruct students on how to exhibit a warm demeanor: greeting patients; sitting beside them while making eye contact; listening carefully rather than interrupting dismissively; touching the patient's shoulder in a comforting way; and so on. Vinson and Underman argue that consumerism and corporatization have prompted the move toward clinical empathy. Patients can access a great deal of information on the internet about available treatments as well as ratings of doctors and clinics. Business logic has further pervaded healthcare as solo practitioners and entire hospitals have been combined into conglomerates. However, the pressure to increase the number of patients-per-hour a provider sees can negatively affect doctor-patient interaction, and the daily requirements of clinical empathy can lead to burnout.
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Details
- Title
- Clinical Empathy as Emotional Labor in Medical Work 1
- Creators
- Alexandra H. VinsonKelly Underman
- Publication Details
- Sociology Through Emotions, pp 165-186
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Edition
- 1
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Sociology
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85216030605
- Other Identifier
- 991022017434004721