AGGRESSION AND DEPRESSION - A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP

Kendell tried to evaluate the psychoanalytic hypothesis of a reciproca l relationship between aggression and depression with epidemiological data. This relationship is re-examined. By taking into account new and previously unconsidered investigations we come to the following concl usions: The psychoanalytic explanation seems invalid as manifest hosti lity and depression do not correlate negatively. On the contrary, aggr essivity declines as depression improves. - Despite the invalidity of the psychoanalytic hypothesis them seems to be a link between aggressi on and depression. Women who show less aggressive behaviour than men, become depressive twice as often. The higher incidence of depression i n women is neither an artifact nor to be explained by biological facto rs. Socialization, helplessness training, and sex-role seem to contrib ute to this fact. - In times of war, with an aggressive mood in the po pulation and hostile behaviour towards the enemy, a reduction of depre ssive illness and suicide can be observed. - Depressions are three tim es more frequent in religious communities - as eg among the Amish in t he United States - leading a life free of aggression. In spite of some contradictory results, the findings seem to support the reciprocal re lationship between aggression and depression.