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How real is depressive realism? A question of scales and standards

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Abstract

Depressive versus nondepressive realism and distortion were examined by relating both the direction and magnitude of social comparisons to objective standards. Using modified selection and comparative rating paradigms, results indicated that both dysphoric and nondysphoric subjects accurately identified whether they were worse-off, better-off, or similar to comparison targets (direction). However, subjects were not realistic in terms of the magnitude of the social comparison difference between themselves and another. In general, dysphorics' errors resulted in more unfavorable social comparisons relative to nondysphorics. Furthermore, results indicated that dysphorics and nondysphorics used different processes during social comparison: Dysphorics distorted perceptions of others whereas nondysphorics adjusted self-perceptions during social comparison. Our findings suggest that even when an objective standard is used, subjects' judgments can appear to be accurate or distorted depending on whether the data are analyzed according to direction or magnitude. Furthermore, negative distortion, not realism, is characteristic of even mildly depressed subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Loyola University of Chicago, 60626, Chicago, Illinois

    Jeanne S. Albright & Margit C. Henderson

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  1. Jeanne S. Albright
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  2. Margit C. Henderson
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported by a Loyola University of Chicago research stimulation grant to the first author (#389-05-000). The authors thank David Haaga, Emil Posavac, Robert Russell, Marc Wenzel, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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Albright, J.S., Henderson, M.C. How real is depressive realism? A question of scales and standards. Cogn Ther Res 19, 589–609 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02230515

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