Acknowledgments
I would like to gratefully acknowledge Peggy La Cerra for suggesting that postpartum
depression would provide an interesting test of my theory of depression, and for many useful
conversations; Don Symons for his usual enlightening criticisms, suggestions, and editorial
efforts; Leda Cosmides, John Tooby, and the Center for Evolutionary Psychology lab group for
their guidance and critique; Paul Watson, Paul Andrews, Russell Gardner, Andy Thomson, and
John Pearce for a stimulating email exchange on the possible adaptive functions of
depression—the exchanges with Paul Watson, who has a similar theory of depression, were
particularly inspiring and helpful; Martin Daly, Margo Wilson, Jason Feldman, Sabrina
Grannan, Aurelio Figueredo, Beth Kirsner and several anonymous reviewers for their careful
readings and helpful suggestions; and Jeanne Bracker, whose clinical insight underlies much
that is written here.
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