Lewinsohn’s self-focus theory of depression.

A theory that attempts to explain the functioning of depressive states.

There are many theories to explain depression. One of the most comprehensive is Lewinsohn's (1985) self-focus theory, a cognitive-behavioral theory focused on explaining the origin focused on explaining the origin, maintenance and aggravation of depression.

Behavioral-cognitive theories focus on the personal variance of the Person x Situation interaction, and include cognitive processes among their elements.

So, let's see what Lewinsohn's theory consists of, as well as its most important characteristics.

Lewinsohn's theory of self-focus: general characteristics.

We know that depression is a mental disorder that affects our way of thinking, living and feeling.. Thus, in most cases, we know that it originates from a set of events, both external and internal. This, in addition to other factors, is maintained by certain patterns of behavior that we perpetuate and that allow this depressive state.

In his theory, Lewinsohn proposes environmental factors as primarily responsible for depression; however, he also speaks of cognitive factors that mediate its onset, maintenance and aggravation. In other words, for him cognitive factors are mediators of depression, as we shall see below.

The main mediating factor is increased self-awareness. Lewinsohn defines self-focus as a transient, situational state where the person is self-focused on him/herselfor the amount of attention that the person directs to him/herself rather than to the environment.

Chain of events

Lewinsohn's Self-focus theory proposes that the development of events is as follows.

First, an antecedent event appears. Such an event increases the probability of occurrence of a future depression or stressor. In this way, an interruption of adaptive behavioral patterns occurs, and the person is unable to cope with the event.and the person is unable to develop other patterns to replace the previous ones.

This generates a negative emotional reactionThe intensity of which depends on two factors: the importance of the event for the person, and the level of disruption in daily life.

Thus, a negative imbalance is generated in relation to the quality of the person's interactions with his or her environment, which results in a decrease in positive reinforcement and an increase in the rate of aversive experiences.

Critical mediating factors

In summary, Lewinsohn's self-focused theory of depression proposes that in the chain of events leading up to the onset of a depressive episodeThe critical factors that mediate the effects of the reduced rate of positive reinforcement on depression are:

• An increase in self-awareness (self-focus).
• An increase in negative experiences.
• A failure of the person to cope with stress (e.g., a life event, such as a loss).

Elevated self-awareness

More specifically, Lewinsohn proposes that two elements add up to generate heightened self-awareness: on the one hand, the negative emotional response mentioned above, together with the negative impact due to the person's failure to override the consequences of stress. Thus, this sum gives rise to an elevated state of self-consciousness, this sum gives rise to a heightened state of self-awareness..

This self-awareness determines the origin of three factors: cognitive alterations, negative behavioral consequences and the intensification of previous emotional reactions.

The increase in self-awareness, together with an intensification of negative emotions, leads to the following in the person a reduction in self-esteem and a series of cognitive, emotional and behavioral changes that correlate with depression. correlated with depression. In turn, these changes exacerbate self-consciousness, resulting in a vicious circle that maintains and aggravates depression.

Characteristics predisposing to depression

Lewinsohn's Self-focus theory proposes a number of predisposing characteristics that increase the risk of a depressive episode or depressive disorder. predisposing characteristics that increase the risk of having a depressive episode or a depressive disorder. These are:

• Being female.
• Being 20-40 years old.
• Having a previous history of depression.
• Having poor coping skills.
• Having a high sensitivity to aversive events.
• Being poor.
• Showing a high tendency to self-consciousness.
• Having low self-esteem.
• Having a low threshold for activation of depressogenic self-schemas.
• Showing interpersonal dependence.
• Having children under 7 years of age.

Protective factors

On the other hand, Lewinsohn also proposes in his model a series of protective factors against depression. These are basically three:

• Self-perceiving oneself as possessing high social competence.
• Frequent experience of positive events
• Having a close and intimate person to confide in.

The depressed mood

On the other hand, Lewinsohn's Self-focus theory also specifies the existence of feedback loops. the existence of feedback loops that determine the level of severity and duration of a depressive episode.

On the other hand, it considers that a depressed mood is necessary to produce the negative consequences of depression; this depressed mood thus plays a central role.