British Journal of Clinical P!ycholou zyxwvuts (1996), 35, 91-101 zyxwvuts Q 1996 zyxwvutsrqpon The British Psychological Society Printed in Great Britain 91 zy The relations between sociotropy and autonomy, positive and negative affect and two proposed depression subtypes John B. Jolly* Department oj zyxwvutsr Ps_ycbology, Mississippi College, Clinton, M S 39058, zyx U.YA Murray J. Dyck Department of Social Xcienccs, Universdy of Central Queensland Thomas A. Kramer and Jeffrey N. Wherry Department of l-’<ychiatry, University of A rhnsas for Medical Sciences We examined relations between the cognitive/personality model of sociotropy (SOC) and autonomy (AUT; Beck, 1983) and the affect/personality model of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA; Tcllegen, 1985; Watson & Clark, 1984, 1992), and their relations to two proposed depression subtypes (Beck, 1983) in 60 adult depressed out-patients. SOC and NA scores shared significant common variance while facets of AUT and low PA were moderately related. Autonomous depressive symptoms appeared more depression-specific than sociotropic depressive symptoms. Findings did not confirm the usefulness of sociotropy and autonomy in the prediction of the symptom clusters, possibly due to the measurement of the depressive symptom clusters. Several theoretical models recently have been proposed which have implications for the vulnerability to depression as well as the differential expression of depressive symptoms. Beck (1983) described two major personality dimensions which are related to the clinical characteristics, precipitating factors, and treatment of depression (Robins & Luten, 1991): Sociality (social dependency) refers to the person’s investment in positive interchange with other people. .. The individual is dependent on these social “inputs” for gratification, motivation, direction, and modification of ideas and behavior ... Individuality (autonomy) refers to the person’s investment in preserving and increasing his independence, mobility, and personal rights ; freedom of choice, action, and expression .. . the person’s sense of well-being depends on preserving the integrity and autonomy of his domain; directing his own activities (Beck, 1983, p. 272). * Requests for reprints.