Russell has had bouts of mild depression for years, yet tends to display an accurate view of his circumstances. He recognizes that he has poor prospects for employment and that he isn't very good at making friends, which lead to his depressive episodes. Russell's thoughts represent a phenomenon called

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Russell's accurate view of his circumstances despite his depressive episodes is an example of depressive realism, which refers to the tendency for depressed individuals to have a more accurate view of reality and a less biased perception of their own abilities and control compared to non-depressed individuals. This phenomenon counters the idea of illusory control (Option A) or overgeneralization (Option B) and is not related to learned helplessness (Option C).

Russell Has Had Bouts of Mild Depression for Years, Yet