High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Sociotropy is a personality trait associated with high levels of dependence and excessive need to please others. It is associated with a vulnerability to clinical depression. Individuals with sociotropy tend to be overly nurturant towards people whom they do not have close relationships with, but predisposed to be hostile towards any one who becomes too close. People with sociotropy tend to have a strong need for social acceptance, which causes them to be overly nurturant towards people. Sociotropy is often associated with autonomy. Sociotropic or autonomous individuals react differently when faced with situations that involve self-control.