Cognitive approcah to explaining depression Flashcards
What does the cognitive approach say creates a vulnerability to depression?
a persons cognitions (mental processes)
What did Beck suggest is the first part of a cognitive vulnerability to depression?
1) faulty information processing - focusing on the negative aspects of a situation and ignoring the positives
-blow small things out of proportion
Explain Becks negative triad
-Beck suggested that a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of negative thinking
-negative view of the world (no hope anywhere)
-negative view of the self, (‘I am a failure’)
-negative view of the future. (‘no chance the economy will get better’)
What does Beck say the negative triad is a result of ?
negative self-schema, a package of ideas and information developed from experience
-people interpret all in information about themselves in a negative way
What did Ellis argue anxiety and depression are a result of ?
irrational thoughts
How did Ellis define irrational thoughts and what did she design to explain how it affects our behaviour?
-thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free from pain
- she developed the ABC model to explain this
What does the A stand for in the ABC model?
Activating event- the event that has taken place which triggers thoughts and feelings
What does the B stand for in the ABC model and explain?
Beliefs- the underlying thoughts about what the event means ( can be rational or irrational)
What are the range of irrational beliefs that Ellis identified?
-‘musturbation’ - the belief you must always succeed
-‘I- can’t -stand-it-itis’ - its a major disaster if something doesn’t go smoothly
Utopianism- belief life is always meant to be fair
-Catastrophising
-absolutist thinking
What does the C stand for in the ABC model? explain
Consequence- the resulting emotions, thoughts & feelings
rational beliefs=healthy emotions
irrational beliefs- unhealthy emotions
What research support is there to support the link between depression & cognitive vulnerability? (Beck)
Cohen et al -measured & tracked the cognitive vulnerability of 473 adolescents.
-showed that cognitive vulnerabilities were more common in depressed people and predicted later depression
Why does Beck’s cognitive model of depression have real-life application?
-application in screening and treatment for depression
-Cohen et al concluded that assessing cognitive vulnerability allows psychologists to screen young people (identifying those at risk of developing & monitoring them )
- can also be applied to CBT
- useful in clinical practice
What is one strength-real of Ellis ABC model?
-real-world application in psychological treatment of depression
-Ellis approach to cognitive therapy is called REBT
-REBT can change negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression
- real-world value
What is a limitation of Ellis ABC model of depression?
- only explains reactive depression and not endogenous depression
-many cases of depression not traceable to life events & not obvious what leads to the depression at a particular time
-Ellis ABC= partial explanation
