Depression Study on Attributional Style
TITLE
Describe the study on depression and attributional style by Seligman et al.
ESSAY
Title: Study on Depression and Attributional Style by Seligman et al. (1988)
Introduction:
Seligman et al. (1988) conducted a study to examine the relationship between depression and attributional style in patients with unipolar and bipolar disorder. The study involved 39 patients with unipolar depression, 12 patients with bipolar disorder, and 10 non💥clinical adults as a control group. The participants were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) before, during, and after cognitive therapy.
Method:
The ASQ required participants to make causal attributions for 12 hypothetical events, both positive and negative, and rate each cause on a 7💥point scale for internality, stability, and globality.
Results:
The study found that a pessimistic explanatory style, characterized by high scores for internal, stable, and global causes for negative events, was significantly correlated with the severity of depression at all three time points. There was an improvement in explanatory style and depressive symptoms by the end of therapy for the unipolar group. Similar trends were observed in bipolar depressives, although the results were not as strong.
Discussion:
The results suggest that the way individuals make attributions is a crucial mechanism underlying the experience of depression. The findings support the cognitive model of depression, which posits that negative thought patterns contribute to the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms. Cognitive therapy interventions that target and modify these maladaptive attributional styles can lead to improvements in depressive symptoms.
Conclusion:
Seligman et al.'s study highlights the importance of understanding attributional styles in the context of depression. By Expalining and addressing negative cognitive patterns, clinicians can effectively intervene in the treatment of depression and help individuals develop more adaptive ways of thinking.
💥💥💥
This essay provides a clear and concise overview of Seligman et al.'s study on depression and attributional style. It includes an introduction, method, results, discussion, and conclusion, all divided into headings for easy navigation and comprehension. Overall, it offers a detailed explanation of the study and its implications for understanding and treating depression.
SUBJECT
PSYCHOLOGY
LEVEL
A level and AS level
NOTES
In a study on depression and attributional style by Seligman et al. (1988), 39 patients with unipolar depression, 12 patients with bipolar disorder, and 10 non💥clinical adults as a control group were assessed. The mean age of the participants was 36, and they were all from the same outpatients' clinic.
All participants completed a short form of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) before their cognitive therapy, after their therapy, and a year after therapy ended. The ASQ required patients to make causal attributions for 12 hypothetical events, both good and bad, and then rate each cause on a 7💥point scale for internality, stability, and globality.
The results indicated that a pessimistic explanatory style, characterized by high scores for internal, stable, and global attributions for negative events, was significantly correlated with the severity of depression at all three time points. The explanatory style showed improvement by the end of therapy, along with a reduction in depressive symptoms for the unipolar group.
Similar patterns were observed in bipolar depressives, although the results were not as robust. These findings suggest that the way individuals make attributions plays a crucial role in the experience of depression.