Clinical and empirical research indicates that while major depressive disorder is characterized by diminished positive affect and anhedonia, clinically depressed individuals are still capable of experiencing happiness and positive emotional states.
The claim is specific and empirically testable, passing Step 0. The retrieved papers confirm that depression involves diminished positive affect or anhedonia (the reduction or difficulty in experiencing pleasure), but they do not suggest that the capacity for happiness is entirely absent. Rather, emotional dynamics show that depressed individuals still experience variations in mood, positive affect, and relational connectedness, meaning the claim is supported.