Cognitive approach to explaining depression Flashcards
According to Cognitive psychology what is depression
depression results from thinking negatively about events, a form of faulty information processing.
What are the three parts that Beck said that a persons cognition can lead to depression
Faulty information processing, negative self schemas and negative cognitive triad
What is faulty information processing?
Selective attention to negative aspects of situations and ignore the positives
What are negative self schemas
Schema is a package of info developed through experience. We use schemas to interpret the world so if we had a negative self schema we interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way
What is the negative triad
a) Negative view of the world-(The world is a cold, hard place = no hope)
b) Negative view of the future-(There isn’t much chance that it will get better)=hopelessness
c) Negative view of the self-(I am a failure)=low self esteem
What was Ellis’ ABC model
Proposed good mental health is the result of rational thinking, allows people to be happy and free of pain. To Ellis, conditions like anxiety and depression were a result of poor mental health and irrational thinking.
A-Activating event?
B-Beliefs?
C-consequences?
A-activating events
According to Ellis we get depressed when we experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs . E.g failing an important test
B-beliefs
Utopianism is the belief that life is always meant to be fair. Musturbation leads to irrational beliefs such as the need to always achieve success or perfection. E.g. i must do well.
C-Consequences
Likely consequences of irrational thinking can be experiencing more inner turmoil, sadness, or anger than we can manage or prevent the accomplishment of our own goals
Evaluation on Beck’s Theory-It has good supporting evidence
Much research has supported the proposal that depression is
associated with faulty information processing, negative
self-schemas and the negative triad of. Grazioli and Terry found that pregnant women judged to have been in high in cognitive vulnerablity were more likely to suffer post natal depression
Evaluation on Beck’s Theory-It has practical application in CBT(cognitive behaviour therapy)
Beck’s cognitive explanation forms the basis of cognitive behavioural therapy. All cognitive aspects of depression can be challenged in CBT.
Evaluation on Beck’s Theory-It does not explain all aspects of depression
The theory explains the basic symptoms of depression
however it is a complex disorder with a range of symptoms. Jarrett found that occasionally depressed patients suffer from cotard syndrome which means they think they are zombies. Beck’s theory cannot explain this.
Evaluation on Ellis’ Theory-It only offers a partial explanation
Some depression does occur as a result of an activating event
(reactive depression). However not all depression arises as a result of an obvious cause. This means that ellis’ explanation only applies to some kinds of depression
Evaluation on Ellis’ Theory-It has practical application in CBT
Like Beck’s explanation, Ellis’ explanation has led to successful
therapy. Irrational negative beliefs are challenged and this can help to reduce depressive symptoms suggesting that the
irrational beliefs had some role in the depression.
Evaluation on Ellis’ Theory-It does not explain all aspects of depression
This explanation also does not explain why some individuals
experience anger associated with their depression or why
some patients suffer hallucinations and delusions
Evaluation on the cognitive approach of explaining depression- Biological factors
The biological approach to understanding mental disorders suggests that genes and neurotransmitters may cause depression. The success of drug therapies for treating depression suggest
that neurotransmitters do play an important role; the medication alters the levels of specific neurotransmitters and
reduces the symptoms.
Evaluation on the cognitive approach of explaining depression-diathesis stress approach
individuals with a genetic vulnerability for depression are more prone to the effects of living in a negative environment, which then leads to negative irrational thinking .
