Dependency and self-criticism: Vulnerability factors for depressive affective states.

A variety of theories have explained inappropriate negative affective states in terms of the activation of cognitive-affective structures by stressful events. To have predictive value, such theories need to specify the conditions under which activation will occur. The principle of specificity states that the degree of congruence between an event and a structure determines the probability of the structure's being activated. Counterposed to this principle is the principle of nonspecificity, based on the notion of the assimilation of diverse events by highly accessible structures. To test the relative importance of specificity and nonspecificity, dependent (n?=?16), self-critical (n?=?14), and control (n?=?15) female college students were selected using the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire. They listened to audiotaped portrayals of rejection by a boyfriend and of failure to be accepted into graduate school. The dependent variables were measures of anaclitic (dependent) and introjective (self-critical) state depression. Dependent subjects' anaclitic depressions were specific to rejection (specificity), but self-critical subjects reported introjective depression in response to both failure and rejection (nonspecificity). Surprisingly, dependent subjects also reported high levels of introjective depression. Application of the theoretical framework to clinical depression and to other negative affective states is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)