Browsing by Subject "defeatist beliefs"

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    Additional Support for the Cognitive Model of Schizophrenia: Evidence of Elevated Defeatist Beliefs in Schizotypy
    (Elsevier, 2016-07) Luther, Lauren; Salyers, Michelle P.; Firmin, Ruth L.; Marggraf, Matthew P.; Davis, Beshaun; Minor, Kyle S.; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    Objectives The cognitive model of poor functioning in schizophrenia posits that defeatist performance beliefs—overgeneralized negative beliefs about one's ability to perform tasks—develop prior to the onset of psychosis and contribute to the development and maintenance of negative symptoms and poor functioning. Although several studies with schizophrenia samples have provided support for the model, there is a paucity of research investigating these beliefs in individuals with schizotypy—those exhibiting traits reflecting a putative genetic liability for schizophrenia. This study had two aims: to examine whether defeatist performance beliefs (1) are elevated in schizotypy compared to controls and (2) are associated with decreased quality of life and working memory and increased negative but not positive schizotypy traits in the schizotypy group. Methods Schizotypy (n = 48) and control (n = 53) groups completed measures of schizotypy traits, defeatist performance beliefs, quality of life, and working memory. Results Analyses revealed that the schizotypy group reported significantly more defeatist performance beliefs than the control group. Within the schizotypy group, increased defeatist performance beliefs were significantly associated with greater negative schizotypy traits and lower quality of life. No significant associations were observed between defeatist performance beliefs and positive schizotypy traits and working memory. Conclusions Results generally support the theoretical validity of the cognitive model of poor functioning in schizophrenia and suggest that elevated defeatist performance beliefs may contribute to the manifestation of subclinical negative symptom traits and reduced quality of life among those with a latent vulnerability for schizophrenia.
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    A test of the cognitive model of negative symptoms: Associations between defeatist performance beliefs, self-efficacy beliefs, and negative symptoms in a non-clinical sample
    (Elsevier, 2018-11) Luther, Lauren; Coffin, George M.; Firmin, Ruth L.; Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Minor, Kyle S.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Psychology, School of Science
    The cognitive model of negative symptoms posits that defeatist performance beliefs—overgeneralized negative beliefs about one's ability to successfully perform tasks—contribute to the development and maintenance of negative symptoms. However, a conceptually similar construct, reduced generalized self-efficacy—diminished confidence in one's ability to effectively complete or respond to new or challenging tasks and situations—has also been linked to negative symptoms. To identify which beliefs might be most important to target to reduce negative symptoms, we examined: 1) the association between defeatist performance and self-efficacy beliefs and 2) which beliefs are more strongly associated with negative symptoms in a non-clinical sample of young adults (N = 941). Analyses revealed a significant, medium-sized correlation between defeatist performance and self-efficacy beliefs. Both beliefs types were significantly associated with negative symptoms, but defeatist performance beliefs were more strongly related to negative symptoms than self-efficacy beliefs. Defeatist performance and self-efficacy beliefs appear to be distinct yet overlapping constructs. Findings support the cognitive model and indicate that defeatist performance beliefs may have a greater role in the manifestation of negative symptoms than self-efficacy beliefs. Thus, defeatist performance beliefs may be a uniquely promising treatment target for reducing or preventing negative symptoms.