Dependence refers to used in at least three senses (and sometimes written ‘dependency’). (I) In science generally, if one thing is thought to be caused by another it is said to be dependent on it. (2) In CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY a person is said to be dependent on someone or something to the extent that he needs that thing or person in order to go about his regular activities. (3) In SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY it is sometimes used to refer to the way in which people in a group rely on each other for a definition of reality.
Definition