SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE APPROACHES TO DEPRESSION - TOWARDS A NEW SYNTHESIS

A description of a social-cognitive theory of depression is presented which combines the concepts of mental models, personal goals and socia l roles. An analysis is made of how a number of proposals about the on set of depression can be summarized as the loss of a valued goal or so cial role in an individual who has few other sources of self-worth. In subsequent sections, limitations of the theory are outlined, and the relationship between the present theory and other theories of depressi on is briefly considered.