| Abstract: | Investigated the social responses to dysphoria of 120 female undergraduates selected on the basis of their scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. Ss conversed for 15 min with persons selected for presence or absence of depressed mood. Following the conversations, mood measures (e.g., Multiple Affect Adjective Check List) were administered along with social perception questionnaires that were described either as confidential or to be shared with the other person. Ss who interacted with depressed persons were anxious, depressed, and hostile, and Ss rejected them. Contrary to predictions, Ss were willing to share their negative responses with the depressed persons. The depressed persons correctly anticipated rejection and reciprocated. It is argued that cognitive models of depression need to be integrated with a conception of the social environment as being active and responsive. Judgments of cognitive distortion cannot be made without an understanding of the feedback typically available from the social environment. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
