The Fabulous Fruit Game as a measure of habitual vs. goal-directed response control: An investigation in formerly and never depressed samples

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether habitual, rather than goal-directed responding, was more pronounced among formerly depressed (FD) individuals, in comparison to those never having suffered from depression (ND). Additionally, we explored the relationship between habitual vs. goal-directed behavior as measured by the experimental task ‘Fabulous Fruit Game’ (FFG) and self-report measures of general habitual tendencies, habitual characteristics of negative self-thinking and rumination. It was also explored whether habitual vs. goal-directed behavior was related to the number of previous episodes or the age of depression onset in formerly depressed participants. Participants were 153 volunteers (122 females) that answered self-report questionnaires (BDI-II, BAI, COHS, HINT, & RRS) and subsequently finished the FFG. Considering the various habitual response tendencies that are seen in depression, it was assumed that the FD group (n = 97) would display more habitual responding, in comparison to the ND group (n = 56). The results were to the contrary, with the FD group actually showing increased goal-directed (and therefore less habitual) behavior control in comparison to the ND group on the FFG. Goal-directed responding was related to more general habitual tendencies (COHS), habitual negative self-thinking (HINT) and rumination (RRS). Increased habitual responding on the FFG was also related to later age of onset of depression episodes, but not with number of episodes. The results suggest that the FFG may not capture the habitual properties of depression. However, more studies are needed on the FFG and its relation to depression before such conclusions are drawn.Efni: Sálfræði. Þunglyndi. Vanabundin hegðunarstjórn. Næmisþættir