Interpersonal processes (G19)

Question 1

Which one of the following options is incorrect?

a. Depressed individuals use less animated facial expressions to show sadness.
b. Depressed individuals engage in interpersonal feedback seeking.
c. Depressed individuals prefer receiving negative feedback.

Answer 1

a. Depressed individuals use less animated facial expressions to show sadness.

Question 2

The article by Hudson & Rapee (2008) explains that families and their environments play a role in anxiety disorders.
Name and elaborate on 3 familial factors that may lead to the development and/or maintenance of an anxiety disorder.

Answer 2

1. Parenting
   - For example, there is a correlation between controlling or overprotective parenting and anxiety disorders.
2. Family environment
   - For example, interparental conflict, stressful and negative family environments have been associated with an increased risk of anxiety.
3. Parent-child attachment
   - Insecure attachment has been linked to increased anxiety symptoms compared to secure attachment styles.
4. Parental modelling and transmission of threat information
   - For example, observing or receiving verbal information about potential dangers may lead to the development of fears and phobias.
5. Partner and sibling relationships
   - For example, siblings and spouse who display behaviours such as overinvolvement, lack of warmth, etc., when interacting with a vulnerable individual can impact the development of an anxiety disorder.

Question 3

What behaviour does an anxious child invoke in parents?

a. Less involvement
b. More involvement
c. More avoidance

Answer 3

b. More involvement

Question 4

Why do depressed people engage in negative feedback seeking (NFS) even though it increases their negative affect just as much as individuals with positive self-concepts?

Answer 4

Even though negative feedback is just as likely to lead to an increase of negative affect as compared to more positive individuals, they crave it more because it is consistent with their self-concept and thus enhances their ability to predict and control their environment (p. 361, Hames et al. 2013 article).