What concept may have influenced patients' assumptions about medical personnel?

The representativeness heuristic is a cognitive shortcut that involves making judgments about the likelihood of events based on how closely they match specific prototypes or stereotypes. When patients think about medical personnel, they might rely on this heuristic to form assumptions about their skills, professionalism, or demeanor.

For example, if a patient has encountered a charismatic and engaging doctor in the past, they may assume that all doctors possess that same quality, applying their previous experiences to new situations. This leads them to overlook individual differences and make generalized assumptions based on the "representative" example they have encountered.

Understanding this concept helps clarify how patients might evaluate healthcare professionals and interpret their behaviors. By having a reference point from a previous interaction, patients may inadvertently apply these stereotypes to new medical personnel they meet, affecting their expectations and interactions in clinical settings.