The dependent personality: developmental, social, and clinical perspectives

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Dependency is a significant area of study across developmental, social, and clinical psychology.
• Previous research consistently points to specific origins and behavioral patterns associated with dependency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and integrate existing findings on dependency.
• To draw strong conclusions regarding the etiology (origins) and dynamics (processes) of dependency.
• To discuss implications for various theoretical models of dependency.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review and integration of findings from developmental, social, and clinical studies on dependency.

Main Results:

• The etiology of dependency is strongly linked to overprotective and authoritarian parenting styles.
• Socially, dependency manifests as suggestibility, conformity, compliance, interpersonal yielding, affiliative behavior, and sensitivity to social cues.
• Dependency has a bidirectional relationship with psychological disorders, predicting some and following others.

Conclusions:

• The core motivation in dependency is the pursuit and maintenance of nurturant, supportive relationships.
• Understanding the roots in parenting and social manifestations is key to understanding dependency.
• Findings have significant implications for theoretical frameworks explaining dependency.