Deprofessionalization and its Sources:A Preliminary Analysis
Abstract
The sociology of professions has focused mainly on identifying the characteristics of the ideal type of profession and the processes whereby an occupation moves toward full professionalization. The reverse trend of development, that of deprofessionalization, has not yet received much systematic attention. It is proposed that current changes in the functions and position of the professions require broadening the scope of analysis to include the concept of deprofessionali zation. It will be argued that the sources of a probable process of deprofession alization stem primarily from the core characteristics of professionalism itself—the knowledge base and the ideal of service.