ABSTRACT
Socialization is the process by which a person becomes a member of a group or society and acquires values, attitudes, beliefs, behavior patterns, and a sense of social identity. It is a lifelong process; as each new role is added, one integrates new expectations with previous behavior.
Physicians undergo both formal and informal socialization into the medical role. The medical school experience is structured to impart not only knowledge and technique but also certain attitudes and values. Through the process, medical students are consciously and subconsciously converted from laypeople to health care professionals. This chapter traces the development and organization of the formal educational system for physicians and describes the socialization processes that occur.
