THE INFLUENCE OF TELEVISION VIEWING ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICIANS

This investigation examines the way prime-time network television prog ramming depicts physicians and the medical profession, and the influen ce of these images on public perceptions. The results indicate that ne twork prime-time television programming portrays doctors, and people w ho watch more prime-time network programs featuring physicians perceiv e them, as more likely to be female and young, and as more imbued with interpersonal communication style, physical attractiveness, and power , but less imbued with the trait of character. The prospect that telev ision depictions of physicians may undermine public confidence is expl ored.