The Interview as a Clinical Negotiation

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to elucidate the negotiations between clinician and patient in the medical interview. The chapter discusses the following issues: evolving concepts in the clinician/patient relationship that have led to a greater recognition of the negotiated approach, the concept of negotiation as derived from the field of social psychology, the kinds of conflicts that occur between clinician and patient, the expression of conflict, influences on the negotiating process, strategies of negotiation, and the rationale for a negotiated approach. These factors underlie the view that negotiation is a process fundamental to the clinician/patient relationship.