Cognitive explanations for depression Flashcards
What was Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?
Proposed by Beck (1967)
Some people’s cognition make them more vulnerable to depression.
What were the 3 parts linked to cognitive vulnerability?
Faulty information processing
Negative self-schema
The negative triad
What is faulty information processing?
Focus only on the negative
Blow small things out of proportion
Black/white thinking
Overgeneralisations and catastrophising
What does the term ‘negative self-schema’ refer to?
Mental framework of interpretation of sensory information.
Self-schema is information people have on themselves.
Negative schema = interpret all info about themselves in a negative way.
What is the negative triad?
Person develops dysfunctional view of themselves because of 3 types of negative thinking that occur.
Happen automatically and regardless o the situation.
They are:
Negative views of the world
negative view of the future
Negative view of themselves.
Strength of Beck’s theory
Research support
Clark + Beck
(1999) concluded cognitive vulnerabilities more common in depressed people.
Cohn et al (2019) in prospective study tracked development of 473 adolescents.
Found regular high activity in cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression.
Association between depression and high cognitive vulnerability.
Strength of Beck’s theory
Real-world application
Applications in screening and treatment for depression.
Assessing cognitive vulnerability –> psychologists to see which young people most risk of developing depression.
Applied in CBT —> alter cognitions which make people susceptible to depression
Make people more resilient to negative life events.
Understanding cognitive vulnerabilities more than useful in one clinical practice.
Negative of Beck’s theory
Partial explanation.
Does not account for extreme anger or hallucinations.
What does Ellis’ (1962) ABC Model suggest?
Conditions such as depression and anxiety are result of irrational thinking.
What are the 3 parts comprised of ABC Model?
Activating event —> negative event which triggers belief
Belief—> can be rational/irrational interpretation of event
Consequence —> Irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotions
Strength of ABC Model
Real-world application
Development of REBT (rational emotive behavioural therapies).
By vigorously arguing therapists can alter irrational beliefs that are making them unhappy.
Evidence of REBT effectiveness by David et al (2018) of relieving symptoms and changing negative beliefs.
Highly effective when used in conjunction with drug therapies (Cuijpers 2013)
Weakness of ABC model
Only accounts for reactive not endogenous depression
Idea depression triggered by life events.
Many cases not traceable to life events
Not obvious what leads to depression at the time.
Less useful for explanation for biological depression.
Only partial explanation.
Negative of ABC Model
Blames the depressed person.
Locates responsibility purely with depressed person.
Not suitable for some individuals