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Factors in the self-deception questionnaire: associations with depression
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Nondepressed individuals may exhibit more cognitive distortion regarding self-perception, as indicated by a negative correlation between self-deception and depression measures. This suggests complex cognitive patterns in depression research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive distortion in self-perception is debated between depressed and nondepressed individuals.
- Previous research indicated a negative correlation between the Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate the negative correlation between the SDQ and BDI.
- To investigate which factors of the SDQ contribute to the correlation with depression.
- To explore the implications for understanding self-deception and veridical responding in depression.
Main Methods:
- Replication of the negative correlation between the SDQ and BDI.
- Factor analysis of the SDQ to identify underlying themes.
- Correlation analysis between SDQ factors and BDI scores.
Main Results:
- The negative correlation between the SDQ and BDI was replicated.
- Three factors of the SDQ—relationships with parents, emotionality, and denial of tabooed activities—correlated significantly with the BDI.
- These factors suggest potential differences in self-deception or response accuracy between depressed and nondepressed individuals.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that nondepressed individuals may exhibit more cognitive distortion related to self-perception.
- The identified SDQ factors offer insights into the relationship between depression and self-deception.
- Further research is needed to differentiate between self-deception and veridical responding in depressed populations, with potential therapeutic implications.