多多直播 psychology Ph.D. student鈥檚 research on 鈥榝ear of positivity鈥 could assist with effective depression treatments
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擧ow can positive experiences seem like the opposite for some?
A doctoral student in 多多直播鈥檚 Clinical Psychology program believes this phenomenon is true, and his recent research is featured in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.
Michael R. Gallagher鈥檚 article 鈥淎 network analytic investigation of avoidance, dampening, and devaluation of positivity鈥 focuses on how behaviors related to processing positive experiences may play a role in the development and maintenance of depression.
, is part of his overall study of 鈥渞eward devaluation theory,鈥 an outlook that suggests how individuals value鈥攐r devalue鈥攑ositive experiences may be integral in understanding depression.
鈥淚magine someone with depression is viewing a prospective new relationship or job that would be perceived as exciting or positive to most people,鈥 Gallagher said. 鈥淗owever, given that the individual has past negative experiences鈥攕uch as getting excited and letting oneself enter a new relationship only to be heartbroken or starting a new job only to get fired immediately鈥攖he individual no longer values or approaches these seemingly positive experiences because they learned that whenever they allow themselves to experience happiness or positivity, it is met with a negative outcome.鈥
The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native said, 鈥淭he positive experiences become a signal of danger.鈥
Gallagher鈥檚 study into reward devaluation theory could help researchers better understand the thoughts and behaviors that drive positivity avoidance and develop effective treatments to help depressed individuals.
Working with co-authors Amanda C. Collins, a Dartmouth College postdoctoral research fellow who received a master鈥檚 degree and Ph.D. in psychology from 多多直播, and E. Samuel Winer, a former 多多直播 assistant professor who teaches now at The New School for Social Research in New York City, this is Gallagher鈥檚 second paper published as lead author.
Gallagher has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a master鈥檚 degree in psychology from 多多直播. He teaches general psychology in addition to his research endeavors.
Part of 多多直播鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Psychology is online at
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