an be applied to people suffering symptoms of depression. While most people exhibit the self-serving bias clients who suffer from symptoms of depression often show patterns of attribution called self-defeating. A self-defeating attribution occurs when people attribute negative outcomes to internal conditions, and attribute positive outcomes to external conditions. This type of cognition results in the people feeling as if they have no control over what happens to them (Baron & Byrne, 2000). Wall and Hayes (2000) examined the attribution process of clients with depression. They were interested how clients with depression attribute causes and solutions of their problems. The results of the experiment found that clients without symptoms of depression do attribute their problems internally less then clients with symptoms of depression. Therefore, clients with symptoms of depression feel that they are responsible for their problems. It was also found that the level of depressive symptoms does not affect the client’s attribution for who is responsible for finding a solution (Wall & Hayes, 2000). Previously, Sweeny et. al (1986) found results that are inconsistent with those of Wall & Hayes (2000). Sweeny et. al (1986) found that clients who show signs of depression will think that positive outcomes are beyond their control, and that their efforts to solve these problems will be ineffective (Wall & Hayes, 2000). Attributions are an everyday part of life that greatly affect people’s social cognition. They can be helpful or hurtful depending on how people process them. Even the self-serving bias that at first glimpse may seem egotistical has a very important purpose. The self-serving bias allows people to boost their self-confidence, and feel as if they really do have at least some control over their own success. Self-defeating attributions clearly display what can happen when people feel that they are responsible for...
