Increasing Pleasant Activities
Interventions based on increasing pleasant events grew out of behavioral theories suggesting that depression results from a deficit in response-contingent positive reinforcement. Under this strategy, depressed individuals are encouraged to increase their rates of engagement in pleasant activities, such as socializing, being in nature, being creative, and being physically active. Although such interventions are successful in decreasing depression, as for relaxation therapies, a clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying their effectiveness of the mechanisms underlying their effectiveness has remained elusive (Lewinsohn & Gotlib, 1995).