Cognitive explanation of depression

What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Beck states that the following can make someone vulnerable to depression:

1. faulty information processing

2. negative self-schema

3. negative triad

What is faulty information processing?

when depressed, we focus on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positive

What is a negative self-schema?

a schema is a package of information deprived from experience. A self-schema is information we hold about ourselves. Someone with depression has a negative self-schema, leading to interpreting information about themselves in a negative way

What is the negative triad?

a person develops a dysfunctional view about themselves because of the 3 types of automatic negative thinking:

1. negative view of the world thinking it is a ‘cold hard place’

2. negative view of the future - thinking things won’t get better

3. negative view of the self - ‘I am a failure’

What is Ellis’ ABC model?

Ellis proposed that irrational thoughts cause depression and explains them in 3 steps:

1. activating event

2. beliefs

3. consequences

What is an activating event?

Beck’s emphasis was on automatic thoughts whereas Ellis stated there are situations that trigger our thoughts e.g breaking up

What are beliefs?

the activating event leads to irrational beliefs which there are a range of e.g musturbation (must always achieve perfection)

What are consequences?

the irrational beliefs lead to emotional and behavioural consequences. e.g having musturbation then failing a test could trigger depression

How is the fact that there is supporting evidence for Beck’s cognitive theory a strength?

as the research support that found a link between cognitive vulnerability and depression makes Beck’s cognitive theory reliable

Give an example of this strength

for example, Grazioli and Terry assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability before and after birth. They found that those who were judged as being cognitively vulnerable were more likely to suffer post-natal depression

How is the fact that neither of the cognitive explanations of depression can explain all aspects and/of symptoms of depression a weakness? (+counter/development)

as it means their explanations of depression are reductionist as it isn’t looking at all aspects

C: holism is impossible and takes too long

Give an example of this weakness

for instance, neither of the 2 can explain why people with depression experience hallucinations or extreme anger

How is the fact that cognitive explanations of depression have real life application an advantage?

because the therapies benefit the individual which would then have a ripple effect as it would make them suitable to work and be a functioning member of society

Give an example of this advantage

for example, both Beck and Ellis have developed theories of depression which have lead to therapies such as CBT and REBT to be developed

How is the fact that Ellis’ ABC model is reductionist a limitation?

because it suggests that Ellis’ model may be incomplete and that alternative explanations such as Beck’s negative triad may be needed for a more comprehensive understanding of depression

Give an example of this limitation

for instance, the model doesn’t explain why some people might have depression even though there has been no activating event