Depression and social attraction

Abstract

The present studies tested Coyne's model of depression according to which depressed individuals arouse dysphoric feelings in others who then reject the depressed individual. Subjects read transcripts of simulated interactions with depressed targets, then filled out a mood checklist and a social attraction questionnaire. In the first study it was found that the basic depressive features common to several types of depressive personalities produced the dysphoric mood induction and social rejection. These effects of depression were magnified by a second encounter with the same target. In the second study it was shown that this encounter effect was the result of lack of improvement rather than rejection of help. The findings support and clarify Coyne's model.