Interpersonal Reactions to Displays of Depression and Anxiety

This study contrasted interpersonal reactions to displays of depression and anxiety. Subjects watched a videotape of a person simulating either depressed, anxious, or normal affect and then completed questionnaires that measured their anticipated reactions in an encounter with that person. It was predicted that both anxious and depressed targets would elicit rejection and devaluation but would be differentiated in their perceived self-presentation motives, their capacity for eliciting empathy, and the inductions of specific mood states. As expected, both anxiety and depression produced rejection and devaluation, of comparable levels. Anxiety, but not depression, was associated with perceptions of self-enhancing self-presentation. Mood-induction patterns for anxiety and depression also differed, with each producing an affect-specific “contagion” of mood and a general elevation in other negative states. Neither affect engendered empathy, but both were associated with increased distress reactions. The results suggest that anxiety and depression can be differentiated at the interpersonal level, having characteristic effects on the perceptions, moods, and, by implication, interactional strategies of others.