Explaining Depression

Question 1

How does the cognitive approach explain depression?

Answer 1

In terms of faulty and irrational thought processes and perceptions.

Focuses on maladaptiveness (faulty) cognitions that underpin maladaptive behaviour.

Question 2

Who proposed the cognitive triad? When?

Answer 2

Beck, (1976).

Question 3

What were the 3 aspects in Beck’s cognitive triad? Briefly outline them.

Answer 3

Negative views about oneself:
- “I am worthless”.

Negative views about the world:
- “Everybody hates me because I am worthless”.

Negative views about the future:
- “I’ll never be good at anything because everyone hates me”.

Question 4

Why did Beck create the cognitive triad?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 4

To explain the relationship between negative thoughts and depression.

Question 5

How did Beck believe people became depressed?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 5

Due to their world being seen through negative schemas.

Question 6

What are negative schemas?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 6

Schemas that dominate thinking.

They are triggered whenever individuals are in situations that are similar to those that where negative schemas was learned.

Question 7

What fuels a negative schema?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 7

Cognitive biases.

This causes them to misperceive reality.

Question 8

What are the three types of negative schema?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 8

Ineptness Schema.

Self-Blame Schema.

Negative Self-Evaluation Schema.

Question 9

How does an ineptness schema influence a depressive?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 9

By making them expect to fail.

Question 10

How does an self-blame schema influence a depressive?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 10

By making them feel responsible for all their misfortunes.

Question 11

How does an negative self-evaluation schema influence a depressive?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 11

By constantly reminding depressive of their worthlessness.

Question 12

What are the four types of cognitive bias?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 12

Arbitrary Inference.

Selective Abstraction.

Overgeneralisation.

Magnification and Minimisation.

Question 13

Outline arbitrary inference as a cognitive bias.

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 13

Conclusions drawn in the absence of sufficient evidence.

Question 14

Outline selective abstraction as a cognitive bias.

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 14

Conclusions drawn from just one part of a situation.

Question 15

Outline overgeneralisation as a cognitive bias.

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 15

Sweeping conclusions drawn on the basis of a single event.

Question 16

Outline magnification and minimisation as a cognitive bias.

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 16

Exaggerations in evaluation of performance.

Question 17

What two concepts contribute to the maintenance of the cognitive triad?

(Beck’s cognitive triad, 1976)

Answer 17

Cognitive biases and negative schemas.

Question 18

How did Ellis believe depression occurred?

(Ellis’ ABC model, 1977)

Answer 18

As a result of depressives mistakenly blaming external events for their unhappiness.

Question 19

Who proposed the ABC model? When?

(Ellis’ ABC model, 1977)

Answer 19

Ellis, (1977).

Question 20

How did Ellis believe depressives became distressed?

(Ellis’ ABC model, 1977)

Answer 20

Through their interpretation of the external events.

Question 21

Outline the ABC model.

(Ellis’ ABC model, 1977)

Answer 21

A, (Activating event):
- Something that happens in your environment.

B, (Beliefs):
- What you think (believe) about the event or situation.

C, (Consequences):
- Emotional/ behavioural response, (feelings about B).

Question 22

Outline Bourey et al’s research from 2001.

(Supports Beck’s cognitive triad as an explanation for depression)
(AO3 for the Cognitive Explanation for Depression)

Answer 22

Supports Beck’s cognitive triad as an explanation for depression.

This is because he monitored students negative thoughts with the BDI (Beck’s Depression Inventory), finding that depressives misinterpret facts and experiences in a negative fashion and feel hopeless about the future.

This suggests that Beck’s cognitive explanation is valid.

Question 23

Outline McIntosh and Fischer’s research from 2000.

(Challenges the structure of Beck’s cognitive triad)
(AO3 for the Cognitive Explanation for Depression)

Answer 23

Challenges the structure of Beck’s cognitive triad.

This is because they tested the triad to see if it contains the 3 proposed distinct types of negative thoughts, finding no clear separation of negative thoughts.

Instead they found a single, one-dimensional negative perception of the self.

This suggests that retention of all 3 areas of the triad as separate dimensions is unnecessary for representing the structure of depressive cognition.

This calls Beck’s whole concept into question.

Question 24

Outline Saisto et al’s research from 2005.

(Supports Beck’s cognitive theory)
(AO3 for the Cognitive Explanation for Depression)

Answer 24

Supports Beck’s cognitive theory.

This is because he studied expectant mothers, finding that those who didn’t adjust personal goals to match specific demands of the transition to motherhood, but indulged instead in negative thinking patterns, had increased depressive symptoms.

This suggests that Beck’s theory is valid.

Question 25

Give two general evaluation points for Beck’s cognitive approach to the explanation of depression.

(General evaluation)
(AO3 for the Cognitive Explanation for Depression)

Answer 25

Acknowledges that other aspects, such as genes, development, and early experiences, can lead to certain thinking patterns; which then lead to depression.

Some critics believe that not all depressed people have a distorted view of their own abilities and that while they may focus on negative elements of events they do actually understand such events accurately and therefore don’t show negative biases that Beck believes they should.

There is a lot of research evidence supporting the idea of cognitive vulnerability being linked to the onset of depression, with depressives selectively attending to negative stimuli.

Question 26

How does the biological approach view depression?

(Biological explanation of depression)

Answer 26

The idea that vulnerability to depression is inherited.​

Question 27

How does the biological approach test for depression?

(Biological explanation of depression)

Answer 27

Through twin studies, adoption studies, and gene-mapping studies.

These have been used to compare genetic material from those with high and low incidences of the disorder.​

Question 28

Outline Wender et al’s study from 1986.

(Supports the biological explanation of depression)
(Biological explanation of depression)

Answer 28

Supports the biological explanation of depression.

This is because they found that adopted children who develop depression were more likely to have a depressive biological parent, even though adopted children are raised in different environments.

This suggests that biological factors are more important than cognitive ones.

Question 29

Outline Plomin et al’s study from 2013.

(Supports the combining of biological and cognitive explanations of depression)
(Biological explanation of depression)

Answer 29

Supports the combining of biological and cognitive explanations of depression.

This is because they used gene-mapping techniques with a sample of 3,154 pairs of 12-year-old twins, to find that genetics accounted for about 66% of the heritability of cognitive abilities.

This suggests that the genetic component to them, illustrating how the genetic and cognitive explanations can be combined together to give a better understanding of the origin of the disorder.

Question 30

How does the behavioural approach see depression?

(Behavioural explanation of depression)

Answer 30

As a learned condition.

Question 31

Outline Lewinsohn’s study from 1974.

(Supports the behavioural explanation of depression)
(Behavioural explanation of depression)

Answer 31

Supports the behavioural explanation of depression.

This is because they proposed that negative life events may incur a decline in positive reinforcements and even lead to learned helplessness, where they learn through experience that they can’t bring about positive life outcomes.​

This suggests that depression could result from social learning, through the observation and imitation of depressed others.

Question 32

Outline Maier and Seligman’s study from 1976.

(Supports the behavioural explanation of depression)
(Behavioural explanation of depression)

Answer 32

Supports the behavioural explanation of depression.

This is because they found that participants placed in a situation where escape from noise or shocks was impossible didn’t try to escape from future similar situations where escape was possible.

This suggests there is a concept of learned helplessness.

Question 33

Outline Coleman’s study from 1986.

(Supports Lewinsohn’s learning theory)
(Behavioural explanation of depression)

Answer 33

Supports Lewinsohn’s learning theory.

This is because they found that individuals receiving low rates of positive reinforcement for social behaviours became increasingly passive and non-responsive, leading to depressive moods.

This suggests that Lewinsohn’s theory is valid.