Depression: The Evolution of Powerlessness

"Represents work(s) of outstanding British scholarship on depression." --Clinical Gerontologist "Undaunted, Paul Gilbert begins Depression: The Evolution of Powerlessness by taking the field to task for narrowly focused theories...With some provocative phrasing, witty putdowns, and what suggests an incredible command of the literature, Gilbert lays down the groundwork for the development of what looks to be an ambitious integrative model of depression based on evolutionary theory...This is a creative account of depression, a solid contribution to the literature that brings back into focus issues of power and hierarchy that other theorists push into the background." --Contemporary Psychology "A nice feature of his book is that it makes an effort to place issues in a broader social-ecological and evolutionary context. It also sparkles at times with insights and is periodically useful in putting the reader on the trail of interesting ideas...In closing, Gilbert's newest book is wide-ranging and rich with ideas and references...Still, the book does bring a wealth of ideas together not normally seen in one place. And it deserves attention for its interesting exploration of issues related to the evolutionary history of depression." "Scholarly, eclectic, and provocative...." --Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic "Comprehensive in [its] theoretical perspectives and thorough in the review of the data...." --Clinical Gerontologist "Gilbert has crafted a tightly organized book presenting the thesis that depression is an evolutionary response that has the adaptive function of maintaining and supporting hierarchical social systems." --Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research "...stylistic and thematic unity make it easy and enjoyable to read." --Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research "...the book works because of its scholarship and its comprehensiveness." --Psychotherapy Practice and ResearchPaul Gilbert Ph.D. is the author of 'Depression: The Evolution of Powerlessness', published 1992 under ISBN 9780898628845 and ISBN 0898628849.