SOCIOTROPY, AUTONOMY, AND SELF-COMPLEXITY

The predictions of Beck's (1987) cognitive theory regarding personality modes (sociotropy and autonomy) creating vulnerability to depression have not been consistently supported in empirical research. Sociotropy involves high interpersonal investments vs. autonomy which values independence. In an attempt to account for this inconsistent track record, we tested the hypothesis that being both sociotropic and autonomous is associated with high self-complexity, which provides a buffer against stress-induced depression. In a non-clinical sample (N = 124). sociotropy and autonomy were nonsignificantly related to self-complexity. But subjects high on both were more self-complex. This may explain past mixed results when these variables were considered singly as depression vulnerability factors.