••• consumer psychology
Appearances do matter, apparently
People make split-second judgements about a person’s competency based on their own perceptions of the person’s clothing, according to a study led by Princeton University researchers. If the clothes look “rich,” the person is perceived as more competent than if the clothing looks “poor.” These judgements are made immediately and are very hard to avoid.
Participants saw the images for three different lengths of time, ranging from about one second to approximately 130 milliseconds, which is barely long enough to realize one saw a face. Ratings remained consistent across all time durations.
Across studies, the researchers found that economic status – captured by clothing cues – influenced competency judgments. This persisted even when the faces were presented very briefly, when information was provided about a person’s profession or income, when clothing was formal or informal, when participants were advised to ignore the clothing, when participants were warned there was no relationship between clothing and competency and when they were offered a monetary incentive for making judgments independent of the clothing.
“To overcome a bias, one needs to not only be aware of it, but to have the time, attentional resources and motivation to counteract the bias,” the researchers noted. “In our studies, we warned participants about the potential bias, presented them with varying lengths of exposure, gave them additional information about the targets and offered financial incentives, all intended to alleviate the effect. But none of these interventions were effective.”
••• health care research
Put more care in health care
The health care system is not meeting the needs of the people who need it most, according to a new study, as reported by Tracey Walker, managing editor of Managed Healthcare Executive. Based on nine focus groups of low-income consumers with complex health and social needs, In Their Words: Consumers’ Vision for a Person-Centered Primary Care System, from the Center for Consumer Engagement In Health Innovation, found a strong desire for supportive services they do not get now, such as: an ongoing relationship with a trusted provider; a coordinator or navigator who can help them manage their care, connect them to social services and advocate for them when needed; a broader conversation with their primary care provider, not just focused on their medical treatment, but exploring the needs of the whole person; providers with greater cultural sensitivity and empathy; and a centralized place which would include mental health care and supportive services in addition to primary care (a “one-stop shop”). “Consumers expressed the desire for a primary care relationship that is not necessarily tied to a credential [e.g., an MD] but rather one that is rooted in empathy for the significant challenges and barriers this population faces in their day to day life,” says Ann Hwang, director of the Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation.