Covert and Overt Dependence in Suicidal Women and Their Male Partners

Abstract

Dependence has traditionally been associated with suicidal behavior, especially in women. According to recent psychodynamic formulations, overt expression of dependence is influenced by covert mental representations and context-interactional variables. This study explored the covert mental representations and the interactional context of dependence in suicidal women and their male nonsuicidal partners. On the basis of theory, we hypothesized that suicidal women and their partners would have similar covert dependent needs, but opposite styles of dealing with these needs. The suicidal women would express these needs directly through overt dependent behavior while their partners would manifest their dependent needs indirectly through reinforcing dependent behavior in suicidal women. As predicted by theory, suicidal women and their partners were found to be similar in terms of covert dependence and different with regard to overt behavior—male partners tending to foster dependence in suicidal women. Contrary to prediction, most suicidal women did not directly express excessive dependence.