Byron Good

Byron Good is a prominent medical anthropologist and professor of anthropology at Harvard University. His work primarily focuses on the cultural and phenomenological aspects of mental illness, medical practice, and biomedical science.

Early Life and Education

Byron Good was born in America. He completed his undergraduate studies at Goshen College, where he received a B.A. in English Literature. He later pursued his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University.

Career

Good has made significant contributions to the field of medical anthropology. He has conducted extensive research in Iran and Indonesia, focusing on the cultural aspects of mental health and illness. His work in Iran was primarily centered on the study of depression and its cultural interpretations.

In addition to his research, Good has also held various academic positions. He served as the Chair of the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is currently a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Harvard University.

Contributions to Medical Anthropology

Good's work has greatly influenced the understanding of mental health from a cultural perspective. His book, Culture and Depression, co-authored with Arthur Kleinman, is considered a seminal work in the field of medical anthropology. The book explores the cultural interpretations of depression in Iran, demonstrating how cultural factors can shape the experience and understanding of mental illness.

Good has also contributed to the development of the concept of local biologies, which argues that biological processes are not universal but are shaped by cultural and social factors. This concept has had a significant impact on the field of medical anthropology, influencing the way researchers understand and study health and illness.

Selected Publications

• Culture and Depression (with Arthur Kleinman)
• Medicine, Rationality, and Experience: An Anthropological Perspective
• Subjectivity: Ethnographic Investigations (with Michael M.J. Fischer)