Cognitive Approach - Explaning Depression

Question 1

Beck (1967)

Answer 1

• Faulty information processing leads to cognitive biases (overgeneralisation, absolutist thinking and catastrophising)
• Negative schemas - ineptness, self-blame and negative self-evaluation schema
• Negative triad - link between negative views about the world, the future and oneself

Question 2

Ellis (1962)

Answer 2

• ABC model - activating events trigger a basis for belief, rational or irrational beliefs lead to desirable or undesirable consequences
• Mustabatory thinking - thinking certain ideas or assumptions must be true in order have worth

Question 3

Strengths of the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 3

• Supportive evidence (eg. Clark and Beck interview found faulty information processing was more common in depressed people)
• Application in screening and treatment (eg. Cohen found identification cognitive vulnerability prior to symptoms enabled treatment in acute phase)

Question 4

Limitations of the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 4

• Reductionist (eg. Ignores biological research suggesting depression is a result of low serotonin and SSRIs are an effective treatment)
• ABC model doesn’t explain endogenous depression (eg. Many cases not traceable to specific events)