Question

Which is an example of a situation where deferential vulnerability might be a factor?

Answer 1

Deferential vulnerability refers to a person's susceptibility to harm due to reliance or trust placed in others, often a result of power imbalances. It can be seen in situations such as patient healthcare provider relationships, elderly care, and in a prisoner's dilemma scenario.

Step-by-step explanation:

Deferential vulnerability refers to a state of being susceptible or open to harm due to the reliance or trust placed in others and can be a product of power imbalances. It often occurs in situations wherein individuals or groups have to depend on others for their well-being or safety.

One example of a scenario where deferential vulnerability may be a factor is in the relationship between a patient and a healthcare provider. In such a case, the patient (due to illness or lack of medical knowledge) is in a deferential position. They need to trust the healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment, making them vulnerable to any misuse of that power.

Another example could be the context of the elderly who are frail to the point of dependency on care. They become vulnerable as they are inclined to defer to the decisions made by their caregivers.

A final example is seen in a Prisoner's dilemma where two parties, like countries on the brink of war, must trust each other to cooperate rather than defect and incite conflict. The mistrust or defection of one party causes deferential vulnerability as the outcome heavily depends on the actions of the other party.

Learn more about Deferential Vulnerability

Answer 2

A physician recruiting his patients

In deferential vulnerability the authority over the prospective subject is due to informal power relationships rather than formal hierarchies. The power relationship may be based on gender, race, or class inequalities, or they can be inequalities in knowledge (such as in the doctor-patient relationship). Like institutional vulnerability, deferential vulnerability increases the risk of harm that informed consent would be compromised because it is not fully voluntary.