the cognitive approach to explaining depression

what is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

suggests that it’s a person’s cognitions that create a vulnerability to depression

what are the three components of Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

• faulty information processing

• negative self-schemas

• the negative triad

faulty information processing

• when someone is depressed they attend to the negative aspect of a situation and ignore positives

  • also tend to exaggerate the negative elements and think in ‘black and white’ terms

negative self-schemas

• a self-schema is a pocket of information we have about ourselves

• if we have a negative self-schema we interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way

the negative triad

a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of negative thinking that occur automatically, regardless of the reality at the time

what are the elements of the negative triad?

• negative view of the world - reduce any hopefulness

• negative view of the future - reduce any hopefulness

• negative view of the self - negative thoughts can enhance any existing depressive feeling as they confirm existing emotions of low self-esteem

what is the strength and weakness of Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

strength:

• has good supporting evidence

weakness:

• it doesn’t explain all aspects of depression

has good supporting evidence

• researchers reviewed research on depression and concluded there was solid support for all of the cognitive vulnerability factors

• the cognitions can be seen before depression develops, suggesting Beck is correct about cognition causing depression

• therefore increases the validity of theory

it doesn’t explain all aspects of depression

• depression is complex

• some sufferers are deeply angry, and can suffer hallucinations

• Beck’s theory doesn’t explain why 

• therefore is reductionist as isn’t a full explanation of depression

what is Ellis’ ABC model?

suggested that conditions such as depression result from irrational thoughts

• these are any thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free of pain

what are the three components of the ABC model?

• A - activating event

• B - beliefs

• C - consequences 

activating event

suggests people get depressed when they experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs

beliefs

• Ellis called belief that we must always succeed or achieve perfection musterbation

• the belief that it is a major disaster whenever something doesn’t go smoothly is ‘I-cant-stand-it-itis’

• the belief that life is always meant to be fair is utopianism

consequences

when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences

what is the strength and weakness of Ellis’ ABC model?

strength:

• it has a practical application in CBT

weakness:

• it doesn’t explain all aspects of depression

it has a practical application in CBT

• therapy uses idea that by challenging irrational negative beliefs, a personal can reduce their depression

• this therefore suggests that irrational beliefs had some role in depression, so also supports theory

• therefore has high ecological validity