Depression: the evolution of powerlessness
Submitted by WorkCreatively on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 19:36
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Printer-friendly version| Title | Depression: the evolution of powerlessness |
| Publication Type | Book |
| Pub Year | 1992 |
| Authors | Gilbert, P. |
| Publisher | Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers |
| Keywords | acceptance, confinement, helplessness |
| Notes |
acceptance"There is, therefore, an archetypal fear of outsiders and also of being made an outsider. Many films and other forms of art reflect this basic fear. Furthermore, group membership is an important aspect of self-esteem and self-identity (see Abrams et al., 1990, and Chapter 7 this volume). Another interesting observation is that following loss of rank an animal (e.g., in gorillas) may take up a solitary life. Once someone has involuntarily fallen in rank (been deposed) they can be ejected from groups quite quickly. Group living, therefore, runs parallel with the need to feel part of a group, supported by a group, and hence free from potential persecution. Lone primates often find it difficult to be accepted in a group unless they can make some bid for dominance or attract allies. In humans also non-acceptance can elicit aggression, but submission/ withdrawal/ avoidance is probably more common." (p. 181)
confinement, helplessness"Entrapments. In some cases a person is trapped in a poor relationship that she/he cannot get tree from (feeling too guilty at leaving, or too fearful) or is trapped by economic circumstances (e.g., a single mother's dependency on parents, or inability to give up one's job because of economic responsibilities--this is more common in men than is recognised and can lead to anger at the family). This is the equivalent of blocked escape. It is associated with the idea of 'caging', being confined and limited in actual movement (especially away from an aversive situation). Helplessness does not convey the sense of being caged and trapped although at another level they are probably equivalent. Entrapments focus more on the theme of 'freedom of movement' and blocked escape. Events can occur that make one acutely aware not only of how little one can do, but also of how 'confined one is'. Fresh start events would probably reduce the sense of being trapped/caged (Brown et al., 1988)." (p.444) |
| URL | http://books.google.com/books?id=toRX7Zyo_pMC |