The Genetic Mechanism and the Origin of Life

model of the socialization process, in which students acquire the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of the profession which they are about to. enter. This book reflects these different approaches to medical education, as it includes papers ranging from the effects of stress on physicians to an assessment of the government's influence on residents' career choices. Until the 1970s, the focus of research had been on the medical school and its students. Increasing importance is now being placed upon the role of the residency program and experiences after the completion of training on the development of physicians' attitudes and career goals. Appropriately, this book is equally divided among undergraduate medical education, postgraduate study, and practicing physicians. There is also a section on public policy and medical education, and a fine introductory chapter summarizing research from 1910 to the present. Of particular note is a paper by D.H. Funkenstein that provides sound evidence that "feconomic incentives and ideology are more compelling for most students" than the medical school and its faculty in determining career choices. However, J. Stelling and R. Bucher point out that subtle features of a residency program, such as a common "bullpen" office in the first year, may profoundly affect group cohesiveness and future career patterns. Finally, many medical students and physicians may find a perverse satisfaction in seeing the brutality of medical training scientifically documented.