Cogntive Approach To Explaining Depression: Becks Negative Triad

Question 1

What is the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 1

Involves the role of internal mental processes in determining behaviour
- thoughts, information processing and perception examples of internal mental processes

Question 2

Wha does the cognitive approach to explaining depression assume

Answer 2

Assumes that depression is a result of faulty or irrational thought processes and negative schema

Question 3

What does faulty information processing include

Answer 3

• irrationally personalising the world and events that happen to them
• seeking out the negative in any situations
• catastrophising
• overgeneralising

Question 4

What did beck develop

Answer 4

An explanation of depression known as negative triad

Question 5

What is the negative triad

Answer 5

Divided into
- negative view of the self
- negative view of the world
- negative view of future

Question 6

What is a schema

Answer 6

Is a shortcut that acts as a mental framework which people use to organise their ideas and experience of the world into easily categorised packets of information

Question 7

What is a self schema

Answer 7

Is the framework of information an individual has about themselves

Question 8

Research support of becks cognitive theory

Answer 8

Grazioli and terry
Found pregnant women who showed vulnerability for depression were more likely to suffer post natal depression than those without specific diathesi
- this show cognitive approach could be used to identify vulnerability in people and trigger interventions to delay or prevent progress of depression

Question 9

Strenght of becks cognitive theory
(Application)

Answer 9

Good application
CBT is used to identify, challenge and chance irrational thoughts so depression symptoms recede
- demonstrates external validity

Question 10

Limitation of becks theory for depression (limited)

Answer 10

Useful for highlighting what characteristics irrational thinking but not why such thoughts occur or where they come from
Means that the theory lacks explanatory power

Question 11

Limitation of becks theory for depression (does not take a fully holistic approach)

Answer 11

The theory does not consider the influence of biological factors in depression
Research indicates that genetics and neurotransmitters play a key role in the development of depression
So does not take holistic approach to explaining depression