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1973-A-functional-analysis-of-depression.-Ferster 5 PDF
1973-A-functional-analysis-of-depression.-Ferster 5 PDF
1973-A-functional-analysis-of-depression.-Ferster 5 PDF
Depression, like infantile autism (Ferster, 1961), ways of acting. Finally, an objective account of
appears to be an especially appropriate field for the depression phenomenon can provide a frame-
the behavioral psychologist because of the missing work for experiments that measure complex, valid
items of behavior that are so prominent. The be- clinical phenomena. An objective account of the
havioral style of analysis emphasizes the frequency functional relation between the patient's behavior
of behavior as the primary datum, while the par- and its consequences in the physical and social en-
ticular categories of behavior whose frequency is vironment can identify the effective parts of a ther-
to be accounted for are sought from the clinical apeutic procedure so that they can be applied more
literature or from common experience. A behav- frequently and selectively.
ioral approach is useful for communicating, clarify-
ing, and making objective knowledge of human DEPRESSION AS REDUCED FREQUENCY OF
behavior that has been discovered clinically or ex- ADJUSTIVE BEHAVIOR
perientially. Thus, the behavior analysis may be
used to complement rather than substitute for The clinical definition of depression (American Psy-
clinical knowledge (Ferster, 1972). This approach chiatric Association, 1968) as an "emotional state
is derived from Skinner's functional analysis of be- with retardation of psychomotor and thought proc-
havior, particularly in his book Science and Hu- esses, a depressive emotional reaction, feelings of
man Behavior (Skinner, 1957). Especially in the guilt or criticism and delusions of unworthiness
chapters analyzing self-control, education, religion, [p. 36]" is a good starting point to uncover the
government and law, and social behavior, Skinner actual forms of conduct that describe the way a
defines the major kinds of activities that charac- depressed person interacts with his environment.
terize various performances and seeks the variables To observe the actual behaviors alluded to in the
that account for and influence their frequency. clinical definition of depression, we need look to the
Ferster has provided more details of a functional frequency of various classes of the depressed per-
analysis of self-control (Ferster, 1962) and child- son's activity as compared with those of a person
hood psychosis (Ferster, 1961). who is not depressed. The most obvious charac-
The first task in a behavioral analysis is to de- teristic of a depressed person is a loss of certain
fine behavior objectively, emphasizing functional kinds of activity coupled with an increase in avoid-
(generic) classes of performances consistent with ance and escape activity such as complaints, crying,
prevailing clinical facts, the component behaviors and irritability. A depressed person may sit si-
of which can be observed, classified, and counted. lently for long periods, or perhaps even stay in bed
Then, the basic behavioral processes can be applied all day. The latency of a reply to a question may
to discover the kinds of circumstances that can in- be longer than usual, and speaking, walking, or
crease and decrease the frequency of particular carrying out routine tasks will also occur at a
slower pace. While he may at a particular time
answer questions, ask for something, or even speak
1
freely, the overall frequency is low. Certain kinds
The writing of this article was in part supported by of verbal behavior such as telling an amusing
Grant 10123.4829 from the National Institute of Mental
Health. The manuscript profited from thoughtful comments story, writing a report or a letter, or speaking freely
by Margaret Rioch, Stuart Culbertson, and James Gray. without solicitation may seldom occur.
Requests for reprints should be sent to C. B. Ferster,
Department of Psychology, American University, Washing- Beck's (1967) clinical allusion to depression as
ton, D.C. 20016. representing a reduction in gratification suggests