The relationship between decision-making style and depression has been researched. People with a maximizing decision-making style are found to be healthier and less depressed. Attribution habits can be changed through practice to reduce vulnerability to depression.
- The relationship between decision-making style and measures of depression has been studied by Schwartz and his colleagues.
- They found that people with a maximizing decision-making style are healthier, better able to cope, and less depressed compared to those with an external locus of control.
- The reformulated version of Seligman's study suggests that attributions made for negative life events contribute to depression.
- For example, if a student performs poorly on a midterm exam and attributes it to internal, stable, and global factors, they are more prone to developing depression.
- Research has shown that people who tend to make internal, global, and stable attributions for bad outcomes are more likely to develop symptoms of depression.
- Fortunately, attribution habits can be changed through practice, and training in healthy attribution habits has been shown to make people less vulnerable to depression.