Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Behavioral Tasks for Examining Identity Recognition In Mice
Published on: February 7, 2025
Role modelling in professional identity formation: a systematic scoping review
Eugene Yong Hian Koh1,2, Kai Kee Koh3,2, Yaazhini Renganathan3,2
1Singapore Armed Forces, 303 Gombak Drive, Singapore, 669645, Singapore.
Background:
Role modelling's pivotal part in the nurturing of a physician's professional identity remains poorly understood. To overcome these gaps, this review posits that as part of the mentoring spectrum, role modelling should be considered in tandem with mentoring, supervision, coaching, tutoring and advising. This provides a clinically relevant notion of role modelling whilst its effects upon a physician's thinking, practice and conduct may be visualised using the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP).
Methods:
A Systematic Evidence Based Approach guided systematic scoping review was conducted on articles published between 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021 in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and ERIC databases. This review focused on the experiences of medical students and physicians in training (learners) given their similar exposure to training environments and practices.
Results:
12,201 articles were identified, 271 articles were evaluated, and 145 articles were included. Concurrent independent thematic and content analysis revealed five domains: existing theories, definitions, indications, characteristics, and the impact of role modelling upon the four rings of the RToP. This highlights dissonance between the introduced and regnant beliefs and spotlights the influence of the learner's narratives, cognitive base, clinical insight, contextual considerations and belief system on their ability to detect, address and adapt to role modelling experiences.
Conclusion:
Role modelling's ability to introduce and integrate beliefs, values and principles into a physician's belief system underscores its effects upon professional identity formation. Yet, these effects depend on contextual, structural, cultural and organisational influences as well as tutor and learner characteristics and the nature of their learner-tutor relationship. The RToP allows appreciation of these variations on the efficacy of role modelling and may help direct personalised and longitudinal support for learners.
Related Concept Videos
Marcia's Theory of Identity Status
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Deindividuation
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Stereotype Content Model

