Rehm (1977) suggested that depressed persons may prefer immediate reward at the expense of long-term reward. 41 women who had just participated in a psychological experiment were given the option of receiving the pay which they had been promised ($20) immediately or waiting up to 60 days and receiving $30. A point-biserial correlation of −.07 was obtained between subjects' Beck Depression Inventory scores and their choices of immediate versus delayed payment.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LewinsohnP. M.A behavioral approach to depression. In FriedmanR. M.KatzM. M. (Eds.), The psychology of depression: contemporary theory and research. New York: Wiley, 1974. Pp. 157–178.
2.
MischelW.Preference for delayed reinforcement and social responsibility. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1961, 62, 1–7.
3.
O'HaraM. W.RehmL. P.Self-monitoring, activity levels, and mood in the development and maintenance of depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1979, 88, 450–453.
4.
RehmL. P.A self-control model of depression. Behavior Therapy, 1977, 8, 787–804.
5.
RehmL. P.PlakoshP.Preference for immediate reinforcement in depression. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1975, 6, 101–103.
6.
ZuckermanM.LubinB.RobinsS.Validation of Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1965, 29, 594.
