Cognitive approach to explaining depression

Question 1

what is the definition of the negative triad?

Answer 1

• Beck proposed that there were three kinds of negative thinking that contributed to becoming depressed
• negative views lead a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerable to depression

Question 2

What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Answer 2

Beck’s way of explaining why some ppls cognition made them more vulnerable to depression
3 key parts;
Faulty info processing - focus on negatives ignore positives
Negative self schema - interpret all info about themselves negatively
Negative triad - neg. views of;
World
Future
Self

Question 3

what is the ABC model?

Answer 3

• Ellis proposed that depression occurs when an activating event triggers an irrational belief which in turn produces a consequence
• an emotional response like depression which is key to process of irrational belief

Question 4

What are the evaluation points for Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Answer 4

+ supporting evidence - Grazioli & Terry 2000, Clark & Beck 1999
+ practical applications in CBT
- incomplete explanation of depression - doesn’t explain deep anger or hallucinations

Question 4

What are the evaluations points for Ellis’ ABC model?

Answer 4

-partial explanation - not all depression follows an activation event
+ practical applications in CBT - successful therapy
- doesn’t explain all aspects of depression - anger & hallucinations