Stuart Derbyshire

About

University:

University of Birmingham

Department:

School of Psychology

Position:

Faculty Member

Recent Updates

Stuart started following the work of David Cowlard. 2012-02-07 12:58:20 -0800

Stuart started following the work of Jennie Bristow, University of Kent, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Research ... . 2011-12-08 09:18:08 -0800

Stuart started following the work of Ellie Lee, University of Kent, SSPSSR. 2011-12-06 08:45:07 -0800

Papers (23)

Talks (27)

Teaching Documents (2)

The neurospychology of pain

Research Interests (8)

Primary

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Papers

An Uncritical Approach to Behavioral Medicine

The major aim of Behavior and medicine, now in its fifth edition, is to educate U.S. medical students and help them pass the behavioral science portion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). This book is an attempt to convince medical students that understanding human behavior and experience is critical to their future understanding and treatment of illness. The book is divided into five major sections that tackle mind–body interactions, patient behavior, the physician’s role, physician–patient interactions, and social and cultural issues. The general lack of critique is a serious problem throughout the book. Sometimes the lack of critique leads to advice that, if followed, may encourage patients to question the credibility of their doctors. The advice is not wrong but is overly vague and general. The book also includes details that are inadequately substantiated and sometimes clearly incorrect. Behavior and medicine probably does achieve one of its central goals, which is to help medical students through their exams. Nevertheless, the reviewer cannot recommend that students read the book and even worry about what kind of student, and what kind of professor, would be satisfied with a book that fails to critique the material, provides inadequate citations, and tends toward safe and general positions. The reviewer expects his students to write essays that are searching, challenging, and powerful, and to exit the university with a deep respect for the importance of argument in establishing a position. In that regard, Behavior and medicine sets a poor example.