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The Role of the Self in Depression

The Role of the Self in Depression. Depression stats. Prevalence: 20% of U.S. population Women are twice as likely as men to be depressed. Characteristics of Depressed People. Feelings of: Hopelessness—there’s nothing anyone can do to make it better.

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The Role of the Self in Depression

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  1. The Role of the Self in Depression

  2. Depression stats • Prevalence: 20% of U.S. population • Women are twice as likely as men to be depressed.

  3. Characteristics of Depressed People • Feelings of: • Hopelessness—there’s nothing anyone can do to make it better. • Helplessness—there’s nothing I can do to make it better. • Worthlessness—I’m a weak, inadequate person; a failure.

  4. Characteristics of Depressed People • Distorted thinking: • Dwelling on negative aspects of life and self. • Negative interpretations of ambiguous events. • Internal attributions for failure.

  5. Characteristics of Depressed People • Self-focused attention: • More time spent thinking about self, especially after negative events. • Ruminative coping style- thinking about how sad you are. • Women ruminate more than men.

  6. What Causes Depression? Diathesis-Stress Model Diatheses-factors that make certain people more vulnerable than others. Stress-negative life events that may bring on depressive episodes. Diathesis + Stress = Depression

  7. What Causes Depression? Self-Esteem Risk Factors: • Low SE • Contingent SE • Labile (variable) SE

  8. Beck’s Model of Depression • Beck assumes: 1. Depressed people have negative self-evaluations. 2. Depressed people focus more on negative information than positive information. 3. Dysfunctional beliefs make people more vulnerable to depression.

  9. What Causes Depression? • Attributional Models Helplessness Model of Depression: Depression results when people, • Perceive that important events are beyond their control • Attribute negative events to internal, stable, and global causes.

  10. Positive Illusions and Mental Health

  11. Do people possess accurate self-knowledge? • NO! • BTA effect • Self-other bias • Illusion of control • Unrealistic optimism

  12. Do people really believe they’re so wonderful? • Maybe • Not limited to students • Occurs even when anonymous

  13. Benefits of Positive Illusions • Positive illusions are correlated with happiness. • Self-efficacy is more predictive of success than actual ability. • Positive illusions help people cope with illness. • Optimism is correlated with recovery from illness.

  14. Limits and Costs of Positive Illusions • Overly positive self-views (e.g., narcissism) • Exaggerated perceptions of control • Excessive optimism

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