cognitive approach - depression

What does the cognitive explanation suggest?

• depression is caused by negative and irrational thinking.

Becks cognitive theory

• a persons cognitions create a vulnerability to depression.

• faulty thinking

• negative self schemas

• the negative triad

1) Faulty thinking

• depressed people tend to selectively attend to negative aspects

• ignore postives.

2) negative self schemas

• package of ideas we have about ourselves.

• constantly seeing themselves in a negative way

3) negative triad

• people with depression become trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts.

• view themselves, the world and the future in pessimistic way.

Ellis ABC model

• proposed good mental health is the result of rational thinking that allow people to be happy.

• not event that causes depression but how we interpret the event.

three stage model

• A- activating agent (negative events that trigger irrational beliefs)

• B- belief (interpretation of event, believing the negative)

• C- consequence (unhealthy emotional outcomes)

Forms of irrational beliefs

• catastrophizing: e.g world will end if this goes wrong.

• musterbatory thinking: ideas must be true in order to be happy.

• utopianism: perfect society.

limitation - limited explanation

• only explains reactive not endogenous depression.

• endogenous: not traceable to life events but rather genetic basis.

• doesnt consider other important factors such as neurochemistry.

• therefore seen as reductionist.

limitation - ethical issue

• may place blame on the individual for their depression

• depression caused by irrational implies individuals responsible

• problematic if depression caused by external factors such as abuse

• could be seen as socially sensitive.

strength - real world application

• real world application in both screening and treating depression.

• can use tools to identify cognitive vulnerabilities to spot symptoms before developing.

• CBT help challenge irrational thoughts, become more resilient when faced with neg events.

• has practical value in improving mental health