Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Sociological Calendar of Transitional Stages During Psychiatry Residency Training

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Academic Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: In 1975, Donald Light, Jr., presented a “sociological calendar” as a paradigm for describing the important dimensions and stages of social and professional development in psychiatric residency training. The authors sought to develop an updated calendar and to determine if the calendar is consistent with attitudes of residents in various stages of their training. Methods: A new sociological calendar was developed after conducting a focus group with chief residents. The Osgood Semantic Differential Survey (OSD) was used to measure residents’ attitudes, and the results were compared with the modified calendar. Results: The updated calendar differs considerably from Light’s original calendar. Findings from the OSD were generally consistent with the updated calendar. Conclusions: A modern sociological calendar illustrates the relatively predictable transitions that residents go through over the course of their training. By better understanding these stages of development, supervisors and residency directors may become more effective in their teaching and support efforts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brent DA: The residency as a developmental process. J Med Educ 1981; 56: 417–422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Yager J: A survival guide for psychiatric residents. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974; 30: 494–499

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Light D: The sociological calendar: an analytical tool for field-work applied to medical and psychiatric training. American Journal of Sociology 1975; 80: 1145–1164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Light D: Becoming Psychiatrists: The Professional Transformation of Self. New York, WW Norton, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  5. Durham ML: Mental health and managed care. Annu Rev Public Health 1998; 19: 493–505

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Blumenthal D, Gokhale M, Campbell EG, et al: Preparedness for clinical practice: reports of graduating residents at academic health centers. JAMA 2001; 286: 1027–1034

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Krueger RA: Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research. Newbury Park, CA, Sage, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  8. Britten N: Qualitative research: qualitative interviews in medical research. BMJ 1995; 311: 251–253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Osgood CE, Suci GJ, Tannenbaum PH: The Measurement of Meaning. Chicago, University of Illinois Press, 1957

    Google Scholar 

  10. Austin JK, Champion VL, Tzeng OCS: Cross-cultural comparison on nursing image. Int J Nurs Stud 1985; 22: 231–239

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Malik SL, Manchanda SK, Keepak KK, et al: The attitudes of medical students to the objective practical examination. Med Educ 1988; 22: 40–46

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hunt DD, Fenichel G, Baker V, et al: Contrasts in professional identities in psychiatrists and internists. J Med Educ 1984; 59: 894–899

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Halleck SL, Woods SM: Emotional problems of psychiatric residents. Psychiatry 1962; 25: 339–346

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Klagsbrun SC: In search of an identity. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1967; 16: 286–289

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Tischler GL: The beginning resident and supervision. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1968; 19: 418–422

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Belitsky CA, Kennedy SH: Transition to psychiatric residency: unique stresses; unique rewards. Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry 1995; 12: 37–46

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shershow JC, Savodnik I: Regression in the service of residency education. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976; 33: 1266–1270

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rodenhauser P: Regression as a cardinal factor in organizational destabilization. Adm Policy Ment Health 1993; 20: 153–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Bion WR: Experiences in Groups. New York, Basic Books, 1961

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. Schutz WC: The Interpersonal Underworld. Palo Alto, CA, Science and Behavior Books, 1966

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kernberg OF: Leadership and organizational functioning: organizational regression. Int J Group Psychother 1979; 28: 3–25

    Google Scholar 

  22. Greenblatt M: The use and abuse of power in the administration of systems. Psychiatric Annals 1986; 16: 650–652

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hafferty FW: Beyond curriculum reform: confronting medicine’s hidden curriculum. Acad Med 1998; 73: 403–407

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Rodenhauser P, Rudisill JR, Dvorak R: Skills for mentors and protégés applicable to psychiatry. Acad Psychiatry 2000; 24: 14–27

    Google Scholar 

  25. Bucher R, Stelling J, Dommermuth P: Implications of prior socialization for residency programs in psychiatry. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1969; 20: 395–402

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Box 356560, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Jesse R. Fann M.D., M.P.H. &  D. Daniel Hunt M.D., M.B.A.

  2. Department of Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Douglas Schaad Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Jesse R. Fann M.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Daniel Hunt M.D., M.B.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Douglas Schaad Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jesse R. Fann M.D., M.P.H..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fann, J.R., Hunt, D.D. & Schaad, D. A Sociological Calendar of Transitional Stages During Psychiatry Residency Training. Acad Psychiatry 27, 31–38 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.27.1.31

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.27.1.31

Keywords

Search

Navigation