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Related Experiment Videos

Dysphoric mood and preference for immediate versus delayed monetary reinforcement.

S T Gaynor1, A P Thomas, P S Lawrence

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro 27402-6164, USA.

Psychological Reports
|September 9, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Depression is not linked to impulsivity. This study found no difference in delayed reinforcement choices between depressed and non-depressed individuals, challenging self-management deficit theories of depression.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Depression is theorized to stem from deficits in self-management skills.
  • Interventions targeting these skills show promise, but core assumptions lack empirical validation.
  • Specifically, the hypothesis that depressed individuals exhibit impulsive choice (preferring smaller, immediate rewards) over self-control choice (larger, delayed rewards) is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically test the tenet that depressed individuals make more impulsive choices than non-depressed individuals.
  • To address methodological limitations in previous studies examining reinforcement choice in dysphoria.
  • To investigate the relationship between depression severity and the ability to delay gratification.

Main Methods:

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  • Participants were divided into dysphoric and non-dysphoric groups based on Beck Depression Inventory scores.
  • A task requiring multiple responses was used to assess choice behavior.
  • A quantitative model was applied to determine the subjective value of reinforcers.

    • Main Results:

    • No significant systematic difference was found in the ability to delay reinforcement between dysphoric and non-dysphoric groups.
    • The study did not support the hypothesis that dysphoric individuals are less able to delay gratification.
    • The overall sample demonstrated a preference for self-control, aligning with general findings in choice-response studies.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings do not support the self-management deficit theory's claim regarding impulsivity in depression.
    • The results suggest that the ability to delay reinforcement is not systematically impaired in dysphoric individuals.
    • Further research is needed to explore interpretations related to sensitivity to experimental contingencies.