Subordination and Defeat

Edited by Sloman, Leon; Gilbert, Paul

• Contents: Preface. Introduction. Part I: Subordination Strategies and Depression.P. Gilbert, Varieties of Submissive Behavior as Forms of Social Defense: Their Evolution and Role in Depression. L. Sloman, How the Involuntary Defeat Strategy Relates to Depression. Part II: Biological Correlates of Subordination and Depression.M. McGuire, F. Fawzy, J. Spar, A. Troisi, Dysthymic Disorder, Regulation-Dysregulation Theory, CNS Blood Flow, and CNS Metabolism. R.D. Levitan, G. Hasey, L. Sloman, Major Depression and the Involuntary Defeat Strategy: Biological Correlates. Part III: Psychosocial Dimensions of the Involuntary Defeat Strategy.G.E. Weisfeld, C.A. Wendorf, The Involuntary Defeat Strategy and Discrete Emotions Theory. B.P. Buunk, V. Brenninkmeyer, Social Comparison Processes Among Depressed Individuals: Evidence for the Evolutionary Perspective on Involuntary Subordinate Strategies? J. Price, Subordination, Self-Esteem, and Depression. Part IV: Psychotherapeutic Approaches.S.R. Swallow, A Cognitive Behavioral Perspective on the Involuntary Defeat Strategy. L. Sloman, L. Atkinson, Social Competition and Attachment. L. Sloman, P. Gilbert, Concluding Comments.

"The ideas presented in this book should be exciting for therapists and depressed clients alike, because the evolutionary approach to understanding depression readily suggests the development of effective psychotherapeutic treatment strategies....This book is well worth reading and its content deserves thoughtful consideration."—Metapsychology"A very good idea is presented, and correlated findings are presented in a fine biopsychosocial fashion....I do firmly recommend this book to anyone interested in an evolutionary approach to, and a broader understanding of, depression and mental disorders."—Human Ethology Bulletin"The publication of Subordination and Defeat: An Evolutionary Approach to Mood Disorders and Their Therapy is a major step forward in the understanding and treatment of clinical depression. Since John Price's path-breaking article on dominance, ranking, and mental illness in 1967, a substantive body of theory and research has emerged on subordination, defeat, powerlessness, and suboptimal attachment as they cause and/or aggravate mood disorders and depression. Sloman and Gilbert do an excellent job of integrating the various strands of this literature, and the strong panel of experts, new conceptual models, and provocative treatment approaches are just a few strengths of this highly recommended work."—Kent G. Bailey, Ph.D.Virginia Commonwealth University