The authors of Integrating Behavioral and Social Sciences With Public Health examine the ways that community-based behavioral and social science have been applied to major public health concerns. By its nature, public health is complex: Drug addiction, HIV, cancer, violence, and cardiovascular disease are threats notoriously difficult to control. Scientific advances have the potential to prevent disease and other health problems, yet when applied to communities the actual results are often less than spectacular. Psychological and other social factors within specific communities can and often do influence human behavior in negative ways that limit the effectiveness of technological and biomedical approaches. Applying the constructive knowledge gained from behavioral and social research to public health represents a promising new direction. The authors in this volume provide insight on that promise by discussing mobilization, prevention programs, intervention evaluations, and research. Not only a showcase of successful integration, this volume is also a challenge to public health specialists and behavioral and social scientists to integrate their work in more effective ways. This call to arms is a must-read for any psychologist or social scientist working in the public health field.
