Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression

Question 1

Outline the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 1

The cognitive approach to explaining depression suggests that negative and irrational thoughts make an individual vulnerable to depression. Beck suggested the negative triad which suggests that negative thinking can make an individual vulnerable to depression. He suggests that three kinds of thinking which makes an individual vulnerable to depression such as negative views about the world where individuals think that the world is a hard place. Also they have negative views about the future where they think that they will never achieve anything. They also have negative views about oneself where they think that they are worthless. Alternatively, Ellis suggested the ABC model as a cognitive explanation of depression. This states that irrational thoughts make an individual vulnerable to depression. He suggests that there is an activating event which is an external event such as the loss of a job that can trigger irrational beliefs such as the idea that we must always achieve perfection (musterbation) or the idea that life should be fair (utopianism). This can lead to consequences such as depression and leads to a change in the activity levels.

Question 2

Discuss the cognitive approach to explaining depression (3 X AO3)

Answer 2

(CAN ONLY USE FOR EVALUATING BECK) Research to support the cognitive explanation for depression was conducted by Cohen et al. He tracked the development of adolescents, regularly measuring cognitive vulnerability which may lead to depression. It was found that showing cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression in their life, therefore supporting that there is an association between cognitive vulnerability such as negative thinking suggesting that Becks negative triad is an appropriate explanation of depression.

Findings of research into the cognitive approach to explaining depression has led to practical applications. The principle of the theory, that depression is caused by negative and irrational thought processing has led to the treatment of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This therapy has been found to be effective in treating depression by helping clients to identify, challenge and change irrational/negative thoughts to rational/positive ones, via disputing. Therefore, the cognitive approach to explaining depression is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world.

A weakness of the cognitive approach in explaining depression is that cause and effect cannot be established within the research. Whilst negative/irrational thoughts can be linked to depression it cannot be firmly concluded whether negative/irrational thoughts cause depression or if they are a consequence of it. Therefore, it is argued that the cognitive approach cannot be a seen as a full explanation of depression.