Lecture 4 - Theoretical Perspectives Part II Flashcards
from behavior to cognition: Albert Bandura
humans do not always require external reinforcement to alter our behavior patterns; we regulate behavior via internal symbolic processes-thoughts, “a capacity for self-direction”
- we visualize consequence/outcome to actions
- do not also require reinforcement or external influence
- later developed a theory of “Self-Efficacy” (individuals can achieve desired goals)
- Cognitive Behavioral Treatments work by improving self-efficacy
perspectives of other Cognitive Behavioral Theorists
- placed less emphasis on learning theory framework
- focused exclusively on cognitive processes and their impact on behavior
current Cognitive Behavioral Perspective
focus: how thoughts and information processing can become distorted and lead to maladaptive emotions and behavior
- central construct is the SCHEMA adapted by Beck
Schemas and Cognitive Distortions
we have schemas about other people, social roles and events
- self-schema, assimilation, accommodation
self-schema
views on who we are, what we might become, what is important to us, who we ought or should be, who we are not, notions of roles
assimilation
integrate new experiences into our existing cognitive frameworks, even if we have to distort
accommodation
change existing frameworks to make it possible to incorporate new information
Aaron Beck’s view on Psychopathology
maladaptive schemas develop due to adverse early learning, results in distorted thinking and information processing which are characteristic of certain disorders.
- e.g. depressed pts show memory biases favoring negative information over positive or neutral information
- information is processed non-consciously (not the Freudian unconscious); (term for mental processes that are occurring w/o our being aware of them)
Attribution Theory
contributed to Cognitive Behavioral Approach
- attribution: the process of assigning causes to things that happen (e.g. if you fail an exam, what led to the failure?)
- attribution styles may be associated w/ specific mental disorders
- e.g. depressed (Internal, Stable, Global for negative events), non-depressed-self-serving bias (Internal, Stable, Global for positive events)
Cognitive Therapy
Shift in focus from overt behavior to the underlying cognitions assumed to be producing the maladaptive emotions and behavior
- fundamental to Beck’s perspective: the idea that
the way we interpret events and experiences determines our emotional reactions to them - goal: How to best alter distorted and a maladaptive cognitions and the underlying maladaptive schemas associated w/ them
filtering
dwell on the negative and ignore positives
dichotomous thinking (all or none, black and white)
see things as absolute, black and white categories
overgeneralization
view a negative event as a never-ending pattern of defeat
magnification (catastrophizing) or minimization
blow things out of proportion or shrink their importance inappropriately
personalization and blame
- blame yourself for something you’re not totally responsible for
- blame other people and overlook your contributions
fortune-telling
arbitrarily predict that things will turn out badly
mind reading
assume that people are reacting negatively to you when there’s no definite evidence
Impact of the Cognitive Behavioral Perspective
- traditional Behaviorists initially skeptical, cognitions are not observable phenomena”
- empirical Support
- advancements in our understanding of cognition and sophistication in our means of studying cognition have reduced criticisms
limitation of the Cognitive Behavioral Perspective
- too simplistic
- permanent change?
Psychological Factors that lead to vulnerability to disorder or precipitate disorder, developmental influences include:
- Early deprivation or trauma
- Institutionalization
- Neglect and abuse in the home
- Separation
- Marital discord and divorce
- Maladaptive peer relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination in race, gender and ethnicity
- Inadequate parenting styles (parental psychopathology, parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful)
Impact of the Social Perspective
research has led to programs for improving social conditions and community facilities, but therapist interventions are limited
- we can’t always change an individual’s social circumstance (e.g. “Multi-systems” Interventions
Cultural Perspective
- sociology and anthropology enhance the understanding of sociocultural factors in human development and behavior
- individual personality development reflects the norms and values of larger society
- stressors specific to one society can produce mental disorders specific to that society
