Trust, communication, theory of mind and the social brain hypothesis: Deep explanations for what goes wrong in health care

Fitzgerald, L; Annabelle, ML; Braithwaite, J; Iedema, RA; Jorm, C

Trust, communication, theory of mind and the social brain hypothesis: Deep explanations for what goes wrong in health care

Fitzgerald, L Annabelle, ML Braithwaite, J Iedema, RA

Jorm, C

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Health Organization and Management, 2007, 21 pp. 353 - 367
Issue Date:: 2007-09-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fitzgerald, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Annabelle, ML	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Braithwaite, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Iedema, RA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6792-1048	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Jorm, C	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-09-11	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Health Organization and Management, 2007, 21 pp. 353 - 367	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1477-7266	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/5405
dc.description.abstract	Purpose The purpose of the paper is to examine the deep conceptual underpinnings of trust and communication breakdowns via selected health inquiries into things that go wrong using evolutionary psychology. Designomethodologyoapproach This paper explains how this is carried out, and explores some of the adverse consequences for patient care. Evolutionary psychology provides a means of explaining important mental capacities and constructs including theory of mind and the social brain hypothesis. To have a theory of mind is to be able to read others' behaviours, linguistic and non-verbal cues, and analyse their intentions. To have a social (or Machiavellian) brain means being able to assess, compete with and, where necessary, outwit others. In the tough and complex environment of the contemporary health setting, not too different from the Pleistocene, humans display a well-developed theory of mind and social brains and, using mental attributes and behavioural repertoires evolved for the deep past in hunter-gatherer bands, survive and thrive in difficult circumstances. Findings The paper finds that, while such behaviours cannot be justified, armed with an evolutionary approach one can predict survival mechanisms such as turf protection, competitive strategies, sending transgressors and whistleblowers to Coventry, self-interest, and politics and tribal behaviours. Originalityovalue The paper shows that few studies examine contemporary health sector behaviours through an evolutionary psychology lens or via such deep accounts of human nature. © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Health Organization and Management	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/14777260710778899	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Health Policy & Services	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Communication	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Machiavellianism	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Psychology, Social	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Professional-Patient Relations	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Trust	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Psychological Theory	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Culture	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Politics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Survival	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Organizational Case Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Patient Satisfaction	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quality of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Biological Evolution	en_US
dc.title	Trust, communication, theory of mind and the social brain hypothesis: Deep explanations for what goes wrong in health care	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	21	en_US
utslib.for	2001 Communication and Media Studies	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	21	en_US

Abstract:

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to examine the deep conceptual underpinnings of trust and communication breakdowns via selected health inquiries into things that go wrong using evolutionary psychology. Designomethodologyoapproach This paper explains how this is carried out, and explores some of the adverse consequences for patient care. Evolutionary psychology provides a means of explaining important mental capacities and constructs including theory of mind and the social brain hypothesis. To have a theory of mind is to be able to read others' behaviours, linguistic and non-verbal cues, and analyse their intentions. To have a social (or Machiavellian) brain means being able to assess, compete with and, where necessary, outwit others. In the tough and complex environment of the contemporary health setting, not too different from the Pleistocene, humans display a well-developed theory of mind and social brains and, using mental attributes and behavioural repertoires evolved for the deep past in hunter-gatherer bands, survive and thrive in difficult circumstances. Findings The paper finds that, while such behaviours cannot be justified, armed with an evolutionary approach one can predict survival mechanisms such as turf protection, competitive strategies, sending transgressors and whistleblowers to Coventry, self-interest, and politics and tribal behaviours. Originalityovalue The paper shows that few studies examine contemporary health sector behaviours through an evolutionary psychology lens or via such deep accounts of human nature. © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/5405