Nonverbal Communication and Expectation Generation

Abstract

Nonverbal behavior (NB) is a part of the psychosocial context in which patient-provider relationships happen. Previous study has proven its ability to manipulate treatment outcomes. As part of a bigger project that studies NBs effect on treatment outcome related to heat-pain, this thesis primary aim is to investigate if the NBs used is reliable and valid. Through 21 videos of three actresses channeling specific NBs masquerading as a health professional, patients are introduced to a heat-pain relieving cream called Embla. The thesis secondary aim investigates how the sex of the patient and provider affects treatment outcome. As the design is of a limited scope, no research taken from this study is generalizable.