Cognitive explanations of depression

Question 1

Role of thinking

Answer 1

-irrational
-automatic (Beck)

Question 2

Beck’s Cognitive Theory (Negative-triad)
Faulty Information

Answer 2

-pay selective attention to their environment
-attend to negative aspects of world, situation and ignore any positives
-‘black and white’ thinking and blowing small issues out of proportion- faulty cognitions

Question 3

Ellis’ ABC Model

Answer 3

Activating Event (A)
Belief (B)
Consequence (C)

Question 4

Beck’s Cognitive Theory (Negative-triad)
Negative self-schemas

Answer 4

-schemas-childhood
-sensory information=mental framework for interpretation
-develop negative self-schemas from life experiences and henceforth all new info about ourselves is interpreted negatively
-confirmation bias that lead to snowball effect (for e.g everyone gets invited to a bday that they didn’t)

Question 5

Beck’s Cognitive Theory (Negative-triad)

Answer 5

Negative views
about the world

Negative views Negative
about oneself views
about the
future
(In a triangle with arrows going clockwise)

Question 6

Beck’s Cognitive Theory (Negative-triad)

Answer 6

-cognitive distortions
-lies that the brain is telling the self, and the individual is believing
-cognitive treatment=challenging thoughts, expectations and beliefs

Question 7

ABC Depression

Answer 7

A-activating event- an external negative event that triggers irrational thoughts
B-irrational thoughts lead to irrational beliefs
C-irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy, maladaptive, negative emotional responses, resulting in depression