Cognitive explanation for depression

What does the cognitive approach suggest about depression?

The cognitive approach suggests that depression is caused by faulty cognition, including faulty information processing and negative thinking patterns about the self, world, and future.

What are schemas in the cognitive approach?

Schemas are mental frameworks that act as shortcuts to process information about the world, including self-schemas.

How do schemas lead to depression?

Depression occurs when individuals develop negative self-schemas, leading them to interpret experiences in a pessimistic and biased way.

What is Beck’s negative triad?

Beck proposed that depression is caused by negative schemas, leading to a negative view of:

• The self

• The world

• The future

What are cognitive distortions in Beck’s theory?

Faulty thinking patterns including:

• Overgeneralisation

• Magnification

• Selective perception

• Absolutist (black-and-white) thinking

Overly magnificent shellfish ass

What is overgeneralisation?

Drawing broad negative conclusions from a single negative event.

What is magnification?

Exaggerating the importance or severity of negative events.

What is selective perception?

Focusing only on the negative aspects of a situation.

What is absolutist thinking?

Thinking in all-or-nothing terms, with no middle ground.

What is Ellis’ ABC model?

Ellis proposed that emotional responses depend on beliefs about events, not the events themselves.

What are the components of the ABC model?

• A (Activating event) → external situation

• B (Beliefs) → rational or irrational interpretation

• C (Consequences) → emotional and behavioural outcome

How does the ABC model explain depression?

Depression occurs when individuals have irrational beliefs, leading to negative emotional consequences, rather than the event itself causing depression.

What is musturbatory thinking?

A form of irrational belief where individuals think in absolute terms (e.g. “things must be a certain way”), leading to distress.

What research supports cognitive explanations?

Hammen & Krantz (1976):

• Depressed participants made more negative interpretation errors
  ✔ Supports cognitive distortions

What real-life application supports cognitive explanations?

Cognitive theories led to CBT and REBT, which are highly effective treatments.

What evidence supports CBT effectiveness?

March et al. (2007):

• CBT had 81% effectiveness, similar to medication
  ✔ Supports underlying cognitive theory that depression is due to faulty cognitions is valid as the treatment based on that idea is effective.

Limitation – cannot explain manic phases

Cognitive explanations cannot explain bipolar disorder, where individuals experience manic episodes (high energy and confidence).

Limitation – ignores other symptoms

Does not fully explain anger issues or other emotional variations in depression.

Limitation – blaming the victim

By focusing on faulty thinking, it may:

• Empower individuals

• OR lead to blaming the victim, especially in cases of external stress (e.g. poverty, grief)

Limitation – biological factors

Evidence shows genetic and neurochemical factors contribute to depression (e.g. effectiveness of antidepressants), meaning cognitive explanations are not a complete explanation.