7. Cognitive Approach To Explaining Depression Flashcards
state the 3 elements involved in Beck’s cognitive theory of depression/cognitive vulnerability
fault information processing, negative self-schemas, the negative triad
what does the term ‘cognitive approach’ refer to?
approach that focuses on how our mental processes such as thoughts and perceptions affect our behaviour
what does Beck’s cognitive theory of depression explain?
why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others
what does Beck’s theory suggest about why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others?
that a person’s cognitions create this vulnerability
how does faulty information processing occur?
when depressed we attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives, also tend to blow small problems out of proportion and think in black and white terms
what is a schema?
a package of ideas and information developed through experience, they act as a mental framework for the interpretation of sensory information
what is a self-schema?
the package of information we have about ourselves, if we have a negative self-schema we interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way
what are the 3 kinds of negative thinking involved in Beck’s negative triad?
negative view of the self, negative view of the world, negative view of the future
how does Beck’s negative triad make a person vulnerable to depression?
such negative views lead a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerable to depression
what did Ellis propose as an explanation of depression and when?
the ABC model, 1962
how did Ellis suggest depression occurs through the ABC model?
an activating event triggers irrational beliefs which in turn produces a consequence - depression
what did Ellis propose good mental health was?
the result of rational thinking
how did Ellis define rational thoughts?
thinking in ways that allow people to be free of pain and happy
how did Ellis define irrational thoughts?
not as unrealistic or illogical but as any thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free of pain
Identify the A in Ellis’ model
Activating event
Identify the B in Ellis’ model
Beliefs
Identify the C in Ellis’ model
Consequences
What are examples of irrational beliefs?
Musturbation
I-cant-stand-it-itis
Utopianism
What is musterbation?
The belief that we must always succeed
What is ‘I-can’t-stand-it-itis’
It is the belief that there is a disaster when things do not go smoothly
What is Utopianism?
The belief that the world must always be fair and just
3 AO3 points for Beck’s cognitive theory of depression
good supporting evidence, practical application in CBT, doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
3 AO3 points for Ellis’ ABC model
partial explanation, practical application in CBT, doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
AO3 point 1 for Beck’s theory: good supporting evidence
Grazioli and Terry (2000) assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth. Found that those women judged to have high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post-natal depression
AO3 point 1 for Beck’s theory: good supporting evidence EXPANDED (further addition to point)
Clark and Beck (1999) reviewed research and found that critically cognitive vulnerability can be seen before the development of depression suggesting that Beck may be right about cognition causing depression at least in some cases
AO3 point 2 for Beck’s theory: practical application in CBT
forms the basis of CBT in which all cognitive aspects of depression can be identified and challenged including the components of the negative triad which are easily identifiable. This means a therapist can challenge them and encourage the patient to test if they’re true
AO3 point 3 for Beck’s theory: doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
explains the basic symptoms of depression but depression is complex. Beck cannot easily explain some patients experiencing extreme anger or suffering hallucinations and bizarre beliefs. Occasionally patients suffer Cotard syndrome, the delusion that they are zombies
AO3 point 1 for Ellis’ ABC model: partial explanation
some cases of depression follow activating events and psychologists call this reactive depression but see it as a different kind of depression meaning that Ellis’ explanation only applies to some forms of depression
AO3 point 2 for Ellis’ ABC model: practical application in CBT
the idea that by challenging irrational beliefs a person can reduce their depression is supported by research evidence (Lipsky et al. 1980)
AO3 point 3 for Ellis’ ABC model: doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
very much the same as Beck’s in that although it explains why some people appear to more vulnerable to depression as a result of their cognitions it cannot explain anger or cotard syndrome
