Genes on the Couch: Explorations in Evolutionary Psychotherapy

Edited by Paul Gilbert and Kent G.Bailey

ISBN 10: 1583911030 / ISBN 13: 9781583911037

Published by Psychology Press, 2002

About this Item

Paperback. 376 pages. 1 editon. published in 2002. Lang. en. Former library book with stamps in faint black ink on each side of the page block and front free end paper. The spine is creased. Binding tight and square, contents clean and unmarked.

Seller Inventory # 100183481

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Genes on the Couch: Explorations in Evolutionary Psychotherapy
• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1583911030
• ISBN 13: 9781583911037
• Binding: PaperBack
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • Psychology

About this title

Synopsis

Philosophers and therapists have long theorised about how psychological mechanisms for love, jealousy, anxiety, depression and many other human characteristics may have evolved over millions of years. In the dawn of the new insights on evolution, provided by Darwin's theories of natural selection, Freud, Jung and Klein sought to identify and understand human motives, emotions and information processing as functions deeply-rooted in our evolved history. Despite this promising start and major developments in modern evolutionary psychology, anthropology and sociobiology, the last fifty years has seen little in the way of therapies derived from an evolutionary understanding of human psychology. The contributors to this timely book illuminate how an evolution focused approach to psychopathology can offer new insights for different schools of therapy and provide a rationale for therapeutic integration.
Genes on the Couch brings together respected clinicians who have integrated evolutionary insights into their case conceptualisations and therapeutic interventions. Various psychotherapy schools are represented, and each author provides illustrative examples of the interventions used. Specific topics addressed include the nature of evolved mental mechanisms; regulation/dysregulation of internal processes; attachment and kinship in therapy; the importance of internalising warmth as a therapeutic goal; kin selection and incest avoidance; co-operation and deception in social relations; difficulties in working with certain male clients; gender differences in therapy and the roles of shame and guilt in treatment.
Providing up-to-date summaries of recent thinking in this increasing important but diverse area, Genes on the Couch will be of interest to psychotherapists, psychiatrists and a wide range of mental health professionals.

About the Author

Paul Gilbert, Kent G. Bailey