Final answer:
Carter's feelings of hopelessness and lack of joy in his current job served as a catalyzing factor in his depression, reflecting the negative attributions and feelings of helplessness outlined in Seligman's hopelessness theory. Collaborative therapy focused on changing attribution habits likely aided in his recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on Seligman's learned helplessness and hopelessness theory, it can be understood that Carter's work was a catalyzing factor in his depression. The model articulates that depressive feelings can arise when an individual makes negative attributions about the events in their life which are perceived as uncontrollable, such as internal, stable, and global causes for their adversities. In this case, Carter's dissatisfaction with his job would very much reflect the kind of helpless and hopeless mindset described in Seligman's reformulated theory. The fact that he saw his job as a cause of his hopelessness suggests that he made attributions which led to the belief that he could not change his situation, contributing to his depression.
These attributions impacted his psychological well-being, leading to a sense of helplessness and loss of control. Working with his therapist has likely involved learning healthier attribution habits and developing a sense of agency, which are methods suggested by the hopelessness theory to combat depressive symptoms. Changing Carter's thought patterns to more positive and controllable attributions can ultimately reduce his vulnerability to depression and improve his outlook on his career and life in general.