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From dysfunction to adaptation: an interactionist model of dependency.

Robert F Bornstein¹

¹Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York 11530, USA. bornstein@adelphi.edu

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology

|March 31, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Dependent personality style involves both active and passive behaviors, and can be adaptive in certain situations, such as improving treatment compliance. This challenges traditional views of dependency.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Personality Studies

Background:

Traditional clinical views often associate dependent personality style solely with passive behaviors.
Recent research suggests a more nuanced understanding, recognizing both active and passive behavioral components.
The adaptive potential of dependency in specific contexts, like medical treatment adherence, is increasingly acknowledged.

Purpose of the Study:

To challenge the clinical lore surrounding dependent personality style.
To present a cognitive/interactionist model of dependency.
To highlight current challenges in understanding and treating dependency.

Main Methods:

Conceptualization based on a cognitive/interactionist model.
Identification of four key components of dependency-related responding: motivational, cognitive, affective, and behavioral.
Review of recent advancements in understanding dependency dynamics.

Main Results:

Dependent personality style is linked to active, not just passive, behaviors.
Dependency can be adaptive, particularly in enhancing compliance with medical and psychotherapeutic regimens.
The cognitive/interactionist model outlines four core components: need for support, self-perception of ineffectualness, anxiety in autonomy, and caregiver-seeking behaviors.

Conclusions:

The understanding of dependency's etiology and dynamics has significantly advanced.
Future challenges include defining subtypes, establishing DSM criteria, and optimizing care within managed care frameworks.
A more comprehensive model of dependency is needed to address clinical and diagnostic complexities.