ABSTRACT
Vulnerability defined as an 'endogenous, stable characteristic that remains latent until activated by a precipitating event'. An event that may trigger vulnerability in one person viewed with equanimity by another. Beck proposed two broad personality types who would be at risk for depression or anxiety: sociotropy and autonomy. The sociotropic personality orientation places a high value on having close interpersonal relations, with a strong emphasis on being loved and valued by others. On the other hand, the autonomous personality orientation reflects a high investment in personal independence, achievement, and freedom of choice. Beck explained the typical sociotropic belief is 'I must be loved to happy, while a typical autonomous belief is 'I must be a success in order to worthwhile'. Cognitive theory is essentially a diathesis-stress model where the diathesis is the cognitive vulnerability and the stress is current adverse life events that activate these beliefs. Scott points out that there are varying degrees of vulnerability.
