4. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY (THE COGNITIVE APPROACH TO EXPLAINING DEPRESSION (BECK’S NEGATIVE TRIAD AND ELLIS’S ABC MODEL; COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY, INCLUDING CHALLENGING IRRATIONAL THOUGHTS)) Flashcards
What is Ellis’s ABC Model in explaining depression? A: Ellis’s ABC Model explains depression through three components:
- A (Activating Event): A triggering event (e.g., getting fired).
- B (Belief): The irrational or rational belief about the event (e.g., “I was sacked because they hate me” vs “the company was overstaffed”).
- C (Consequence): The emotional outcome, where rational beliefs lead to healthy emotions (e.g., acceptance), and irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotions (e.g., depression).
What is “mustabatory thinking” according to Ellis? A: Mustabatory thinking involves the belief that certain assumptions must be true for an individual to be happy, such as:
- “I must be approved by important people.”
- “I must do well, or I am worthless.”
- “The world must give me happiness, or I will die.”
These irrational beliefs contribute to depression.
How does Ellis’s ABC Model help in treating depression
Ellis’s ABC model led to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), which challenges irrational beliefs and replaces them with rational ones. This treatment is effective at reducing depression symptoms and preventing relapse.
What is Beck’s Cognitive Theory of Depression?
Beck proposed that depression is caused by Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), where individuals automatically think negatively about themselves, their world, and their future, reinforcing their depressive state.
What is Beck’s Negative Triad in depression? A: Beck’s Negative Triad consists of three negative views:
- The Self: “I am undesirable and unworthy.”
- The World: “People dislike me, I fail in life.”
- The Future: “Things will never improve; I’ll always be alone.”
These negative thoughts are biased and stem from negative schemas formed early in life.
What are negative schemas in Beck’s theory of depression?
Negative schemas are persistent, negative thought patterns formed during childhood due to experiences like rejection. These schemas lead to biased thinking, such as maximization (blowing things out of proportion), which activates the negative triad.
How does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) address depression according to Beck?
CBT targets and challenges the automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) and cognitive biases that contribute to depression. The therapy helps individuals develop healthier thinking patterns and break the negative triad, reducing depressive symptoms.
What is the key difference between Ellis’s and Beck’s explanations of depression?
Ellis focuses on irrational beliefs that stem from negative events (e.g., getting fired), while Beck focuses on automatic negative thoughts and negative schemas that shape how people view themselves, the world, and the future.
What is the main strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?
The cognitive approach is supported by empirical evidence. For example, Hammen and Krantz (1976) found that depressed individuals made more errors in logic when interpreting written material, supporting the idea that cognitive errors contribute to depression.
What is a limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?
One limitation is that it oversimplifies depression by ignoring biological factors, such as neurotransmitter imbalances (e.g., low serotonin), which also contribute to depression. This suggests the cognitive explanation is incomplete.
How has the cognitive approach to depression been applied practically?
The cognitive approach has led to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a widely used treatment for depression. CBT is effective at reducing symptoms and has been found to be better than antidepressant medications at preventing relapse.
What is a limitation of Ellis’s ABC Model in explaining depression?
A limitation is that the ABC model cannot explain all forms of depression, particularly biologically-based depression, which may occur without any clear triggering event, such as in cases of biochemical imbalances.
How do negative thoughts in depression affect a person’s behaviour?
Negative thoughts lead to cognitive biases (e.g., maximization), where individuals interpret situations in a distorted, overly negative way, which in turn affects their behaviour and emotional state, reinforcing feelings of depression.
What is the role of free will in the cognitive approach to depression?
A strength of the cognitive approach is that it emphasizes free will, allowing individuals to take control of their thoughts and change their cognitive patterns. This can empower individuals to manage their depression effectively.
What are the ethical concerns regarding the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for depression?
One concern is that CBT can focus heavily on cognitive factors, potentially overlooking other situational or environmental factors that might contribute to depression, such as family problems or life stressors.
