Lewinsohn (1972) Behavioural Explanation

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To compare the amount of positive reinforcement received by depressed and non depressed participants.

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

longitudinal study over 30 days

self report of pleasant activities and depression daily.

Question 3

Design

Answer 3

Independent measures design. Quasi experiment

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

Participants asked to check mood daily using depression adjectives checklist (select emotions you feel)

Participants asked to complete the pleasant activities scale rating 320 activities e.g. yoga.
These were rated twice, once for pleasantness and once for frequency.

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

significant positive correlation between mood rating and pleasant activities.

Individual differences from 0 to -0,66 shows there is more to depression than reinforcement for pleasant activities.

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

There is a link between reinforcement from pleasant activities and mood.

further research is required to identify individual characteristics that make some people more influenced than others.

Question 7

participants

Answer 7

30 participants

10 depressed
10 other disorder
10 control group