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Interpersonal perceptions by depressed college students

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Abstract

Depressed college students were compared with nondepressed psychopathological students and normal controls regarding perceptions of their dormitory roommates' interpersonal behaviors towards them. Results indicated that depressed subjects overestimated hostility in their roommates and underestimated friendly roommate behaviors. Subjects who were to become depressed later also displayed overestimations of their roommates' aggressiveness. The findings are discussed in relation to Beck's theory of depression.

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This research was supported by grant MH 40308 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Jack E. Hokanson.

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Hokanson, J.E., Hummer, J.T. & Butler, A.C. Interpersonal perceptions by depressed college students. Cogn Ther Res 15, 443–457 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01175728

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