Social Risk Hypothesis of Depressed Mood
Personal summary and reflection on application
Summary of the Hypothesis
Allen and Badcock hypothesize1 that depressed states evolved to minimize risk in social interactions in which individuals perceive that the ratio of their social value to others, and their social burden on others, is at a critically low level. When this ratio reaches a point where social value and social burden are approaching equivalence, the individual is in danger of exclusion from the group. Humans, over the course of evolution, have developed mechanisms of inclusion that have been critical to fitness and retention by the group. Many features of depressed states can be understood in relation to those mechanisms including:
(a) hypersensitivity to signals of social threat from others,
(b) sending signals to others that reduce social risks, and
(c) inhibiting risk-seeking (e.g., confident, acquisitive) behaviors.
This thesis posits three measures that humans make, consciously and unconsciously, to determine their risk of exclusion:
Social Value = the value of our participation in providing resources
Social Burden = the cost to others of our participation in the group
Social Investment Potential = the ability to contribute to an endeavor (ultimately survival and reproduction).
The authors posit that, “Depressed mood evolved to facilitate a risk-averse approach to social interaction in situations in which individuals were typically at risk of exclusion from social contexts (i.e., dyadic relationships or groups) that were vital to dealing with adaptive, social reproductive challenges.”
My Case
My recent experience of depression, the first time in my life that I ever experienced such a prolonged period, lead me on a search for a reason. I’ve had and managed generalized anxiety for most of my adult life, but have generally retained a positive and even optimistic outlook on the future with only a day or two of depression at a time, usually related to a failure, disappointment, or loss.
The recent bout of depression started slowly, with feelings of disillusionment, ambivalence, and weariness. After several years in which I relied on discipline, determination, and grit to keep me going, I suffered a few significant experiences that eventually tripped that ancient “depression survival switch.” The first was a series of minor but recuring power struggles that were generally collegial but involved behind the scene conversations and at least one decision being made about me, without me. The second was a growing isolation and exclusion from the group with tell-tale signs of relational breakdown, such as the “Four Horsemen" describe by Dr. John Gottman - criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling.2 The last experience was a repeated threat to reduce the size of the group through exclusion of some members. The second time this threat was issued I felt a crawling sensation on my skin as if all the muscles in my body were sagging and an accompanying spike of anxiety including a flush to my face, and a dry mouth. Within a few days my concentration became significantly impaired, my energy and motivation crashed, and I found myself staring into space for long periods of time, feeling numb and defeated.
I am writing this almost 3 months after that crash, and it feels like my life has been irrevocably changed. I’ve been working with both a clinical counselor for the last 5 months and an occupational therapist for the last six weeks. I am making some progress back towards a more balanced and productive mental state, but continue to struggle with extreme feelings of sadness, weariness, and purposelessness.
Describing the Attachment Model of depression, Allen and Badcock state, “Gilbert (1992), for example, noted that attachment theorists propose that depression inhibits exploratory or risk-laden activities in the absence of secure attachment bonds and instigates appeasement-related behaviors designed to maintain relationships. Others have argued that the depressive response serves as a distress call (Frijda, 1994), provokes a search for the lost relationship (Averill, 1968), or motivates the sufferer to avoid further deterioration of preexisting bonds (Ingram et al., 1998).”
In my case, I believe that the group does not wish me harm, but with the increase in alternatives for my contribution, external pressures to cut costs, and a mismatch of values between me and the group, I think my re-integration with the group will be difficult. This belief contributes to my depressive state.
Application
Allen and Badcock write, “The critical variable to be controlled to prevent the loss of beneficial relationships, therefore, is the ratio between the resources that are provided to others as a result of one’s participation (which we call social value) and the costs to others (i.e., loss of current or potential resources) of one’s participation in the relationship (which we call social burden).”
Two applications come to mind for me. I can (1) increase my value through resource contribution such as gaining new skills or finding new resources, or (2) develop new connections to groups in which my value will be perceived as high.
Critique of this Model
While I think that this model accurately describes my own experience, some research3 suggest that it only partially accounts for severe levels of depression. In addition the role of other relationships are not factored into the model. For example, the support and valuation I experience from my spouse, family, and friends, remains high, so my persistent depression is likely associated with my desire to be re-valued by the group I was a part of. This pre-occupation with the group’s value of me is a separate factor. Lastly, the rejection by the group triggered my pattern of self-blame. For several years I focused on Schema Therapy, a form of CBT that identifies beliefs that are held, despite their benefit or accuracy. In my case I have held a “defectiveness schema” for most of my life, causing me to undervalue my own contributions and adopt a passive communication style when challenged or threatened.
Therefore, my current efforts are to obtain awareness of when the schema is being triggered, notice myself shifting into a non-assertive stance, and deciding to change that pattern. It also involved gaining objective assessment of my skills and abilities and discerning how best to deploy them to the greatest value of whatever group I am in.
To this end I am focusing on adopting a curious and inquisitive approach to conflict, along with a set of personal practices to boost my confidence and master of skills I personally value and want to develope for the benefit of myself and others.
Retreating to safety: testing the social risk hypothesis model of depression, Joshua C. Dunn , William J. Whelton, Donald Sharpe, Evolution and Human Behavior, Volume 33, Issue 6, November 2012, Pages 746-758 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513812000633