“Examination Nerves”
Sir,—The comments of Professor H. R. Gray and Mr G. Shouksmith in this morning’s issue, reported under the heading, “Examination Nerves held Unnecessary,” while no doubt well-meaning, are erroneous, superficial, and unfair. In the severely disabled student, the true nature of the condition is most often found to be morbid compulsion to fail. This represents a severe personality disorder which has little likelihood of modification by the methods suggested, since the defects as outlined are symptomatic of the total disability. Informed medical opinion on such an important subject would have avoided the oversight of this fundamental factor in a situation which justly gives rise to concern on the part of student and teacher. The problem is, in fact, more medical than educational. Yours, etc.. PSYCHIATRIST. November 19, 1963.
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Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 3
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130“Examination Nerves” Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 3
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