Your sister's doctor is quite sweet, but a bit condescending. Office visits don't take very long and they're full of head and knee patting that tells your sister to stay quiet, know her place, and do what the doctor says. She and her physician have _______ relationship.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The head and knee patting behavior and condescending attitude of the doctor suggest a child-parent relationship, where the doctor adopts a parental role and assumes authority over the patient. This is further reinforced by the doctor telling the patient to stay quiet, know her place, and do what the doctor says. This dynamic is not reflective of a nurturing or collaborative relationship, nor does it involve a machine-and-mechanics or action-facilitating relationship. A peripheral relationship would suggest a more distant or superficial connection, which is not the case here.

Your Sister's Doctor Is Quite Sweet, but a Bit Condescending