Abstract

14 COMMENTARIES Craig A. Anderson and William E. Deuser University of Missouri, Columbia Concurrent with the publication of the reformulated model points needing attention in this area. Thus, we first list points (RM) of learned helplessness (LH) and depression (Abram- on which we are in substantial agreement with Peterson. Then, we tackle in more detail those that need further thought son, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978), Costello (1978) warned and refinement. Finally, we briefly mention several smaller about a bandwagon effect among depression researchers, points of contention. who had seemingly adopted the LH approach with relatively little scrutiny of the theory or data (see also Rippere, 1977). Points of Agreement Although those original fears of a bandwagon effect were directed at the original LH model rather than the attributional Historical or Cultural Limitations one, it is now apparent that this warning applies equally to the new version. RM. We can think of no maior area of It seems unlikely that any culture or historical period has research in which the theory and the data purpo';tedly sup- ever existed in which causal explanation was not a major part porting the theory are as unrelated as in studies of the LH of