The Lack of Patience Among Patients

People’s patience can be shaped by the context in which they are being asked to wait as much as by their inherent stoicism.Research by Chicago Booth PhD student Annabelle R. Roberts, Booth’s Ayelet Fishbach, and University of California at Los Angeles’ Franklin Shaddy, a recent graduate of Booth’s PhD Program, reveals new insights about people and patience. The research suggests that people can be more patient when they have a greater appreciation of what they’re waiting for.

The research also finds that cases differ in a medical context. In some cases, the desire for closure can work against patience. Sometimes people opt for a less-optimal procedure or medical device simply because it is available sooner.