Video Lessons

August 23, 2018

Take the Stanford Microvalidation Challenge

Many of us are pretty preoccupied with our wants, needs, and fears. As we live our fast-paced lives, we may unintentionally commit microaggressions that hurt those around us. As the old saying goes,

Be Kind; Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle

We invite you to put a stop to microaggressions and replace them with microvalidations. Microvalidations are small verbal and non-verbal responses that indicate understanding, empathy and support of the other person’s plight.

Take the Stanford Microvalidation Challenge Today:

Ask a question to someone about work (their work, commute, office space, clinical load, research projects, upcoming deadlines etc.)
When they answer, respond with a micro-validation
Watch for their non-verbal and verbal response
Do it again. See how many you can fit into one day

Remember: A micro validation should be subtle, fleeting, genuine. Avoid personal comments about physical attributes.

Using the comments section below, please share with us how you took the Stanford microvalidation challenge and what the response was.

August 21, 2018

What is micro-communication?

In any encounter, small packets of information are exchanged continuously like a tennis volley. There a minute by minute variation of the information communicated, the underlying affect and the communication effectiveness. As we communicate, we transmit information admixed with microaggressions and microvalidations. The quality of communication is eroded with every microaggression and augmented by each microvalidation.

Communication comprises of both verbal and nonverbal information. Over 90% of the communication is nonverbal. Nonverbal communication is heavily contextual and is influenced by the culture of the communicator. Nonverbal behaviors include eye movements, body posture and movement, tone and cadence of of voice, use of touch, use of silence, use of space and use of artifacts. Skillful use of nonverbal communication can foster effective intercultural interactions.

Effective communication involves awareness and modulation of our microcommunication pattern on an ongoing basis.

August 21, 2018

Microagressions have macroconsequences

Many women report microaggressive experiences at the workplace. Microaggressions are:

Brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities
Often unintentional and unconscious
Often voiced by well-intentioned individuals who may be unaware of the negative connotations and the potentially harmful impact .
Communicates hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults.
Stressful, demeaning, isolating

August 21, 2018

Microaggressions in clinical interactions are injurious to health

The US population is becoming more diverse. The odds of intercultural doctor-patient interactions are increasing rapidly. If you look at direct healthcare workers, ethnic minorities form the majority of the workforce. In any clinical encounter, both the clinician and the patient has to adhere to principles of civility and respectful interactions.

Data show that when patients experience microagressions during clinical interactions, they experience anxiety and depression. Their mistrust increases and their adherence to the careplan decreases.

When calinicians encounter racist or otherwise biased patients, they may choose to recuse themselves of unconsciously distance themselves from the patient resulting in poor quality care.

In keeping with the increasing diversity in the population, patients and clinicians should adhere to a code of conduct that included mutual respect and tolerance for each other.