Abstract
People often make inferences about others from the physical appearance and social group characteristics revealed through their photographs. Because physicians’ photographs are routinely displayed to prospective patients in websites, print media, and direct mail, it is possible that this practice triggers conscious or unconscious biases in potential patients. We investigated first impressions of physicians based on seeing their photographs. In two studies (Study 1 N = 59; Study 2 N = 99), we used an experimentally composed set of physician photographs that varied their gender, age, nationality (USA vs. India), and smiling; their physical attractiveness was also measured. Analogue patients rated the physicians’ patient centeredness, technical competence, and their desire to see the physician again. For patient centeredness, the data revealed bias against older (especially if older and male), Indian, less attractive, and non-smiling physicians, and for competence there was bias against younger physicians (especially if younger and female). For desire to see the physician again, the bias was against Indian, less attractive, and non-smiling physicians. These biases may impact how patients select physicians and may persist to shape their interactions with them.