Abstract
This paper compares the physician's associate (PA)-primary care physician (MD) relationship with that of the clinical psychologist (Ph.D.)-psychiatrist (MD) relationship. It explores the manifest and latent, explicit and implicit, instrumental and expressive, and conscious and unconscious issues which affect the division of labor within each of these professional pairs. The greater historical depth of the psychologist-psychiatrist relationship is explored to offer a perspective on the direction in which the professional identity of the PA is moving, and likewise that of the PA-MD relationship. In both cases, it is argued that the basis for the homeostasis of role complementarity is overdetermined by unconscious issues which role partners bring to the relationship.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Social Science and Medicine. Part E Medical Psychology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
