儘管專業培訓在意識形態上似乎是中立的,但它可能偏向於具有較高階級背景和正規教育的人。在2000年出版的《紀律嚴明:對受薪專業人士和塑造他們生活的靈魂打擊系統的批判性觀察》(英語原名:Disciplined Minds: A Critical Look at Salaried Professionals and the Soul-Battering System that Shapes Their Lives)一書中,作者表示,與非專業人士相比,合格的專業人士在他們的觀點和習慣方面缺乏創造力和多樣性,他將其歸因於伴隨專業培訓過程的微妙灌輸和過濾。他的證據是定性和定量的,包括專業考試、行業統計以及受訓人員和專業人士的個人賬戶。
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^Gardner, Howard and Shulman, Lee S., The Professions in America Today: Crucial but Fragile. Daedalus, Summer 2005. (pgs. 13–14)
^Gilbert, D. (1998). The American class structure: In an age of growing inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Press.
^Beeghley, L. (2004). The structure of social stratification in the United States. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
^Eichar, D. (1989). Occupation and Class Consciousness in America. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN978-0-313-26111-4
^Ehrenreich, B. (1989). Fear of falling: The inner life of the middle class. New York: Harper Perennial.
^Schmidt, J. (2000). Disciplined Minds – A Critical Look at Salaried Professionals and the Soul-Battering System that Shapes their Lives. Rowman & Littlefield, pp.293.