re there any profesional differences in terms of the strength and Frequency of envy?
Dr. Salama: The Italian philosopher Signor Ferriani published an article on beruflichen envy in the British Medical Journal. Architects are at the bottom of the ranking of professions exposed to jealousy and envy. Further up the ranking are professors of science and literature, journalists, book authors, but primarily doctors and actors. The author notes that physicians have a pronounced tendency toward beruflich envy, which is closely linked to their personal emotions and leads to intense conflicts between professional colleagues. Ferriani observes a strong personal rivalry between physicians that has unfortunate consequences, is often degrading, and also does not fit the noble profession of medicine.
When does envy occur and are there categories of envy?
Dr. Salama: Envy usually occurs when there is negative information about oneself associated with frustration and its relevance to personal self-definition, as well as similarities with another person. Three types of envy can be distinguished: surgical envy, hierarchical envy, and patient-related envy.
Is surgical envy a special case?
Dr. Salama: Surgical envy refers to the therapeutic successes of colleagues, especially surgical successes or the way colleagues diagnose and effectively treat difficult medical cases. We empfin envy toward those who achieve excellence in the same specialty. This happens because self-evaluation is threatened by another person's performance. In surgical clinics there is beruflicher competition accompanied by a strong desire for self-affirmation, which in principle would be conducive to beruflichen progress. However, when dishonest feelings of beruflich envy and malicious self-importance arise, endless interpersonal and intergroup conflicts can result. Beruflich envy among physicians severely impairs social interaction and interpersonal relationships, as colleagues are always perceived as competitors and shared commitment to the well-being of the patient takes a back seat. To counteract beruflichem envy, it is important to exercise self-control and to devote oneself to the profession and the patients with dedication. In doing so, a higher ideal of life should be pursued and there should always be an awareness that physicians are practicing a noble science for the benefit of patients, so they should not act out of self-interest. Patient-related envy occurs when a physician feels beruflichen envy because a colleague has a larger patient base, which is considered an established measure of berufliche quality.
How does envy between physicians affect patients?
Dr. Salama: Envy between physicians can have a negative impact on the optimal treatment of patients. When physicians are plagued by professional envy and view their colleagues as permanent competitors, it makes collaboration and information sharing difficult. Instead of working together for the good of the patient, the focus is often on personal interests and outdoing colleagues. This can lead to teamwork being impaired and a reluctance to share knowledge and experience with each other. An atmosphere of mistrust and rivalry can develop, which can affect the quality of treatment and patient safety. Physicians should consciously address berufliche jealousy and focus on cooperative and collegial collaboration to ensure the best possible care for their patients.
