Interpersonal reaction to depression : an examination of the attribution process

Abstract

Coyne's theory of depression has failed to adequately explain the interpersonal process between depressives and nondepressives that lead to the depressive's rejection and a negative mood induction in the nondepressive. The present study was designed to examine whether the attribution process as outlined by Weiner mediates this interpersonal process. In addition, the attributional model of helping behavior was tested. Male and female subjects viewed a videotape of either a normal, depressed or schizotypal personality type who had either been fired from her job for being constantly tardy or permanently laid-off when her plant was closed and sold. Subjects then answered several questionnaires to assess level of rejection; induced mood; the locus of causality, stability, and controllability of the employee's job loss; and other perceptions of the employee. Depressives were rejected more than normals, but not more than schizotypals and there was some mood induction related to personality type. Subjects had consistent perceptions of Weiner's three dimensions and path analysis supported Weiner's theory that helping behavior is based on perceived level of controllability as mediated by sympathy. Finally, there were some significant sex difference indicating that females may be more critical of other females than are males and that males and that females have different prototypes ofdepression and schizotypal personality disorder. The results as a whole suggest some evidence for a general view of depressives which is different from other pathologic personality types and from normals.