Cognitive Theory as an explanation of depression Flashcards
What are the two models of cognitive theory as an explanation of depression?
Beck’s cognitive triad
Ellis’ ABC model
According to Beck’s cognitive triad, what are the three negative thought patterns that people may develop.
Negative thoughts about themselves.
Negative thoughts about the future
Negative views about the world.
What would an example of the negative view of the self be?
‘I am worthless’
What is an example of a negative view of the future?
‘I am never going to amount to anything’.
What would be an example of a negative view of the world?
‘Everyone is against me’
What does Beck say causes the negative triad?
Bad experiences in someone’s past.
What is magnification?
A form of cognitive bias that makes people see their problems as far bigger than they actually are.
What does the ABC refer to in Ellis’ model?
Activating event
Beliefs
Consequences
What does Ellis mean by ‘activating event’?
Something happens to a person that makes them feel unsettled, such as a bad exam result.
What does Ellis mean by ‘beliefs’?
The thoughts the person associates with the event, such as why it happened, which can be rational (healthy) or irrational (unhealthy).
What does Ellis mean by ‘consequences’?
If a person has a rational thought about the event (they failed an exam) beause they didn’t do enough work (rational belief because this is true). Then they will have positive emotional consequences (they won’t be depressed).
If a person has irrational thoughts about why they failed the exam (event) because they went to a birthday party the week before (irrational if they have worked hard the rest of the time), then they will have negative consequences (they might be depressed).
What is a strength of the cognitive theory explanation?
It takes into account the events in a person’s life.
It also recognises that these events could explain why the person has become depressed.
What is a further strength of the cognitive theory of depression?
It has been applied to therapy.
CBT is a leading treatment for depression.
CBT can challenge irrational thoughts people have to stop them feeling depressed, reducing the need for antidepressant drugs.
What is a weakness of the cognitive explanation of depression?
It is difficult to tell whether irrational thoughts are a cause of depression or a symptom of being depressed.
Most people who have depression will be monitored after they have been diagnosed which means that it is unclear how their behaviour or thought processes changed before diagnosis.
