ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that professional identity can be seen as an instance of social identity. That is, professional identity is an individual’s self-concept defined in terms of his or her membership of a professional group. The chapter outlines research that examines professional identity in the clinical education setting and discuss the parallels to, and applicability of, the social identity approach to this research. It discusses issues surrounding stereotyping and how it relates to professional clinical identity. The development of professional identity is considered an essential element of a medical student’s transition into becoming a clinician. The social identity approach addresses intergroup relations, including intergroup conflict, which has implications for medical education. The chapter discusses the role of the social identity approach and stereotype processes in the development of clinicians’ professional identities. Perceptions of medicine as a stereotypically ‘posh’ profession may be linked to the underrepresentation of lower socio-economic groups in medical degree programmes.
