Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Professional Socialization of the Physician: Implications for Emotional Impairment or Well-Being

  • Chapter
Book cover The Mosaic of Contemporary Psychiatry in Perspective

  • 119 Accesses

Abstract

The study of professional socialization in medical training, now in its fourth decade, began with Merton’s classical essay (“Some Preliminaries to a Sociology of Medical Education,”) and related introductory studies.1 Subsequent systematic studies of social conditioning that shape medical school recruits into practicing physicians include Fox’s Experiment Perilous: Physicians and Patients Facing the Unknown,2 Becker and co-workers’ Boys in White,3 Coser’s Life in the Ward,4 Bloom’s Power and Dissent in the Medical School,5 Coombs’s Mastering Medicine,6 and Konner’s Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School.7

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Merton RK, Reader G, Kendall PL. The Student-Physician: Introductory Studies in the Sociology of Medical Education. Boston: Harvard University Press; 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fox RC: Experiment Perilous. Physicians and Patients Facing the Unknown. Glencoe, Ill: The Free Press; 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Becker HS, Geer B, Hughes EC, Strauss AL. Boys in White: Student Culture in Medical School. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Coser RL. Life in the Ward. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press; 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bloom SW. Power and Dissent in the Medical School. New York: The Free Press; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Coombs RH. Mastering Medicine: Professional Socialization in Medical School. New York: The Free Press; 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Konner M. Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation in Medical School. New York: Penguin; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Brim OG, Wheeler S. Socialization After Childhood: Two Essays. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lief HI. Personality characteristics of medical students. In: Coombs RH, Vincent CE, eds. Psychosocial Aspects of Medical Training. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mullan F. White Coat, Clenched Fist: The Political Education of an American Physician. New York: Macmillan; 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  11. LeBaron C. Gentle Vengeance: An Account of the First Year at Harvard Medical School. New York: Richard Marek Publishers; 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Martin T. How to Survive Medical School. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hoffman SA. Under the Ether Dome: A Physician’s Apprenticeship at Massachusetts General Hospital. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Reilly P. To Do No Harm: A Journey Through Medical School. Dover, Mass: Auburn House; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Klass P. A Not Entirely Benign Procedure: Four Years as a Medical Student. New York: GP Putnam’s Sons; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Smith JW, Denny WF, Witzke DB. Emotional impairment in internal medicine housestaff. JAMA. 1986;255:1155–1158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Scheiber SC, Doyle BB (eds) The Impaired Physican. NY: Plenum Press 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Coombs RW, May DH, Small GW (eds) Inside Doctoring: Stages & Outcomes in the Professional Development of Physicians. NY: Praege Publications 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Coombs RH, Boyle BP. The transition to medical school: expectations versus realities. In: Coombs RH, Vincent CE, eds. Psychosocial Aspects of Medical Training. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Coombs RH, St John J. Making It in Medical School. Jamaica, New York: SP Medical; 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schaff E, Hoekelman RA. Medical education at what expense? J Med Ed. 1981;56:433–435.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Valko FJ, Clayton PJ. Depression in the internship. Dis Nerv System. 1975;36:26–29.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Cousins N. Internship: preparation or hazing? JAMA. 1981;242:377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. May DS. On my medical education: seeking a balance in medicine. Med Self Care. 1978; Summer:37–41.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lief HI, Fox RC. Training for “detached concern” for medical students. In: Lief HI, Lief V, Lief NR, eds. The Psychological Basis of Medical Practice. New York: Hoeber Medical Division, Harper & Row; 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Coombs RH, Powers PS. Socialization for death: the physician’s role. Urban Life. 1975;270:250–271.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Coombs RH, Hovanessian H. Stress in the role constellation of female resident physicians. JAMA. 1988;43:21–27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Marchard WR, Palmer CA, Gutmann L, et al. Medical student impairment: a review of the literature. W V Med J. 1985;81:244–247.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Clark DC, Zeldow PB. Vicissitudes of depressed mood during four years of medical school. JAMA. 1988;260:2521–2528.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hsu K, Dolan D. Primary prevention of physician impairment at the medical student level. Can J Psychiatry. 1983;28:415–416.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Berg JK, Garrard J. Psychosocial support in residency training programs. J Med Ed. 1980; 55:851–857.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Weinstein HM. A committee on well-being of medical students and house staff. J Med Ed. 1983;58:373.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Plaut SM, Hunt GJ, Johnson FP, et al. Intensive medical student support groups: format, outcome, and leadership guidelines. J Med Ed. 1982;57:778–786.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Koprowska I, Wheeler J. Preceptorships for premedical students with women physicians. J Am Med Worn Assoc. 1986;41:160–161.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Carmichael SM, Herlihy CE. The impaired physician: medical school and physician approaches. Ala J Med Sci. 1981;31:131–132.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Borenstein DB, Cook K. Impairment prevention in the training years: a new mental health program at UCLA. JAMA. 1982;247:2700–2703.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Gardner R, Wilsnack SC, Slotnick HB. Communication, social support and alcohol use in first-year medical students. J Stud Alcohol. 1983;44:188–193.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Goldberg HR. Stress management in residency training programs. Kans Med. 1987; May:162–169.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Coombs RH, Perell K, Ruckh JM. Primary prevention of emotional impairment among medical trainees. Acad Med. 1990;65:576–581.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Coombs RH, Fawzy FI. Medical marriage as prevention for physician impairment. Calif Acad Fam Pract. 1982;33:14–18.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Coombs RH. Marital status and personal wellbeing: a literature review. Fam Relations. 1991;40:97–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Maslow A. Motivation & Personality. NY: Harper, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Campbell, A. The Sense of Weil-Being in America: Recent Patterns and Trends. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Burke RJ, Weir T. Husband-wife helping relationships: the mental hygiene function in marriage. Psychol Rep. 1987;40:911–925.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Coombs RH. The medical marriage. In: Coombs RH, Vincent CE, eds. Psychosocial Aspects of Medical Training. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas; 1971:133–167.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Coombs RH, Fawzy FI. The effect of marital status on stress in medical school. Am J Psychiatry. 1982;139:1490–1493.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Robert H. Coombs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Anthony Kales MD

  2. Central Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Anthony Kales MD

  3. Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Chester M. Pierce MD

  4. Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Chester M. Pierce MD

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Milton Greenblatt MD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Coombs, R.H. (1992). Professional Socialization of the Physician: Implications for Emotional Impairment or Well-Being. In: Kales, A., Pierce, C.M., Greenblatt, M. (eds) The Mosaic of Contemporary Psychiatry in Perspective. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9194-4_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9194-4_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-9196-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-9194-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation