Coyne's interactional formulation of depression (Coyne, 1976) states that the demands for support of the depressed individual are initially met with understanding but that over time, depressed persons engender increasingly negative reactions from others. The rejection of the depressed person is said to be mediated by a depressed mood induction in the other person. Coyne's model is primarily concerned with interactions involving family and friends of the depressed person, but in the past it has consistently been tested in laboratory situations examining interactions between strangers. The present study attempted to examine subjects' reactions to interaction with a depressed person, within the context of simulated relationships between friends or between strangers. It distinguished between compliance and initiation as expressions of rejection, and investigated the controversial issue of whether or not rejection is mediated by a depressed mood induction. An exploratory aspect of the study involved an inquiry into the potential role of interpersonal needs in the response to depressed individuals. The study was twofold: in the first part, the stimulus consisted of a videotaped interaction between two trained actresses portraying a depressed woman and a non-depressed woman in the experimental condition, and two non-depressed women in the control condition. In the second part, the same interactions were described in written scenarios. Subjects were instructed to imagine themselves as the non-depressed person interacting with the target person, as either strangers or best friends. Thus, the study consisted of two parallel 2X2 designs. Subjects completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist, the Wessman-Ricks Depression-Elation Scale, and the Mehrabian-Russell Semantic Differential at pretest and posttest to measure mood induction. Need for nurturance and need for autonomy were measured at pretest with the Interpersonal Adjective Scale, the Jackson Personality Research Form and the Campbell Need Scale. Posttest acceptance-rejection measures included a modified version of the Opinion Scale and the Impact Message Inventory. Results indicated that interactions with depressed individuals elicit a diffuse negative mood, more so in the context of relationships between friends, in the case of the written scenarios method. Depressed targets were also more rejected than non-depressed targets, but contrary to predictions intimacy decreased the degree of rejection. Rejection was not differentiated into the two concepts of compliance and initiation; however, results pointed to two distinct aspects of rejection - a behavioral aspect and a perceptual one. Mood induction appeared to be related only to the perceptual aspect of rejection, and not to the more salient behavioral one. The contribution of interpersonal needs to rejection appears equivocal; if indeed needs play a role in the mediation of rejection, need for nurturance seems to be more involved than need for autonomy. Although no Method effects were predicted, levels of intimacy were apparently not successfully reproduced in the videotaped stimuli. The two methods at times yielded different results, and further research will clarify their respective external validity. In light of the results of the present study, Coyne's model was in part supported but appears to be in need of serious revisions concerning the mediation of rejection and the effect of intimacy on rejection. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Researchers and theorists have suggested that two personality styles may serve as pathways for the development of depression. One personality style, sociotropy, involves intense needs for positive interchange with others, whereas the other style, autonomy, involves an excessive need for self-control and independence. These personality styles were investigated in the context of Coyne's (1976) interpersonal model of depression, which suggests that depressed persons are rejected by others. Research on this model has been equivocal, and it is possible that these two personality dimensions result in meaningful interpersonal differences within depressed persons. Depressed outpatients, (N=41) and non-depressed controls (N=41) were assessed on sociotropy and autonomy and then participated in a brief task in which a research assistant helped them plan adaptive life changes. These interactions were rated subjectively and utilizing behavioural coding. Results indicated that a combination of depression and autonomy were particularly likely to lead to rejection and less positive interpersonal behaviours. Sociotropy was related to perceptions of interpersonal deference, whereas depression was associated with self-orientation in the task. These results suggest that both depression and personality impact rejection and interpersonal behaviours in social interactions. Overall, this study represents a significant step toward greater specificity in the interpersonal model of depression, and clinical implications of these findings are described.

Researchers and theorists have suggested that two personality styles may serve as pathways for the development of depression. One personality style, sociotropy, involves intense needs for positive interchange with others, whereas the other style, autonomy, involves an excessive need for self-control and independence. These personality styles were investigated in the context of Coyne's (1976) interpersonal model of depression, which suggests that depressed persons are rejected by others. Research on this model has been equivocal, and it is possible that these two personality dimensions result in meaningful interpersonal differences within depressed persons. Depressed outpatients, (N=41) and non-depressed controls (N=41) were assessed on sociotropy and autonomy and then participated in a brief task in which a research assistant helped them plan adaptive life changes. These interactions were rated subjectively and utilizing behavioural coding. Results indicated that a combination of depression and autonomy were particularly likely to lead to rejection and less positive interpersonal behaviours. Sociotropy was related to perceptions of interpersonal deference, whereas depression was associated with self-orientation in the task. These results suggest that both depression and personality impact rejection and interpersonal behaviours in social interactions. Overall, this study represents a significant step toward greater specificity in the interpersonal model of depression, and clinical implications of these findings are described. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study set out to explore and gain a deeper understanding of women’s experiences of depression as a transformational experience through non-dual consciousness that could not be found in contemporary psychological theories alone. The intent is to stimulate conversation and understanding through the culmination of contemporary understanding and theory intertwined with feminist and transpersonal epistomologies to explore the lived experiences of five women who have experienced transformation through their experience of depression. A phenomenological hermeneutics approach was used to approach the phenomenon of depression as a transformational experience in women to honour the lived experience of the five women who chose to participate in this research. This study allowed for conversations to emerge out of the lived experience of the women who have been embracing non-dual consciousness for two years prior to participating in this research. Analysis and interpretation of the transcripts resulted in the emergence of twelve themes. These twelve themes fell into three main categories including Part A: The Descent, Part B: The Transformational Journey, and Part C: Transpersonal Integration. A summary of the findings were provided as well as a discussion of strengths and limitations of this study. / ix, 162 leaves ; 29 cm. --

Text in English / This qualitative psychobiographical study sets out to explore and describe the life of Sir Winston Churchill within the context of his lifelong experience with depression, his ‘Black Dog’. The aim of the research is to present a case for depressive realism with Churchill as the single case study. The reconstruction of Churchill’s life as a psychological narrative is contextualised within the theoretical framework of Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology. Data was collated via biographical and life history material. Data was analysed by means of thematic analysis. Data trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to. The findings of this study reveal that Churchill’s depression had positive gains of him striving to contribute to society, potentially demonstrating that depressive realism exists as a side-effect of depression. The significance of which, conceivably substantiates the idea that positive aspects of depression do exist, enabling a potentially more encouraging and constructive outlook for individuals suffering from depression. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Text in English / This qualitative psychobiographical study sets out to explore and describe the life of Sir Winston Churchill within the context of his lifelong experience with depression, his ‘Black Dog’. The aim of the research is to present a case for depressive realism with Churchill as the single case study. The reconstruction of Churchill’s life as a psychological narrative is contextualised within the theoretical framework of Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology. Data was collated via biographical and life history material. Data was analysed by means of thematic analysis. Data trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to. The findings of this study reveal that Churchill’s depression had positive gains of him striving to contribute to society, potentially demonstrating that depressive realism exists as a side-effect of depression. The significance of which, conceivably substantiates the idea that positive aspects of depression do exist, enabling a potentially more encouraging and constructive outlook for individuals suffering from depression. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)