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ERIC Number: ED198405
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1980-Sep
Pages: 26
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Self-Reinforcement Deficit in Depression: Fact or Artifact?
Gotlib, Ian H.
The constructs of self-reinforcement and social skill have received increasing attention from researchers concerned with the etiology and maintenance of depression. These two variables, however, have not been empirically related. The relationship between depression, self-reinforcement, and social skill was examined with an interpersonal task. Depressed and nondepressed subjects participated in dyadic interactions; following the session, they viewed a videotape of their interaction and were given the chance, at 30-second intervals, to reward or punish themselves for their performance. Results provided only partial support for theories postulating a low, performance-independent level of self-reinforcement among depressives. Although levels of social skill and self-reinforcement were related, the lower the rate of self-reinforcement among the depressed subjects could not be fully accounted for by a lower level of social skill. The rate of self-reinforcement may be more strongly related to perception of performance than to actual performance level. (Author/CS)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (88th, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 1-5, 1980).