Interpersonal Expectancies and Preferences for Various Types of Social Behaviours of Depressed Outpatients

Abstract

Depressed and nondepressed outpatients and normal controls were compared on two questionnaires that assessed interpersonal expectancies and subjects' preferences for engaging in various types of social behaviours. Depressed subjects expressed more negative expectancies than the two control groups regarding the future behaviour of intimates, generalized others, and the operation of fate in their lives. Depressed subjects also indicated stronger preferences for assuming subordinate social roles with intimates and with generalized others. A number of significant correlations indicate that negative interpersonal expectancies are associated with preferences for passive, solitary and subordinate social behaviours.

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