Lesson 9: The Cognitive approach- Beck’s Cognitive triad and Ellis’s ABC Model

Question 1

What is the cognitive model?

Answer 1

The cognitive model proposes that individuals who are suffering from depression often have distorted and negative thinking. People who think in a very negative or irrational way might be more prone to developing the illness of depression.

Question 2

The Cognitive Triad by Beck definition

Answer 2

Beck believes people become depressed because they have a negative outlook and develop schemas which dominate their thinking.
- schemas develop in childhood whereby parents have been overly critical to them
- schemas continue into adulthood and provide a negative framework, whereby life is viewed in a negative way
- could cause depressive thoughts

Question 3

Examples of negative schemas

Answer 3

Self blame- depressed people feel that they are responsible for all misfortunes
Ineptness- depressed people expect themselves to fail at everything

Question 4

3 stages of the cognitive triad

Answer 4

Stage one: negative thoughts about self
- negative thoughts about themselves and criticise themselves at every opportunity
- e.g. “im so bad at maths”

Stage two: negative thoughts about the world
- thoughts that extent to the wider world around them
- negative and distorted thinking continues on a larger scale
- e.g. “im useless at everything i do”

Stage three: negative thoughts about the future
- thinks negatively about their future which might seem hopeless
- can cause low self esteem
- “ill be useless at everything i do, and this will never improve”
- can lead to suicidal thoughts according to Beck

Question 5

Strengths of the cognitive approach by Beck

Answer 5

• It has become very influential in Psychology during the last 30 years
• theory based on sound and experimental research that is objective and permits testing
• it seems that distorted and negative thoughts are common amongst patients with depression.

Question 6

Weaknesses of the cognitive approach by Beck

Answer 6

• A limitation is that cause and effect is not clear
  can we say that negative and irrational thoughts cause depression to develop or does depression (from a different source) cause negative thoughts to develop
  cause and effect needs to be further investigated so that psychologists can be sure that negative thinking causes depression
• Cognitive approach would criticise the behavioural approach when examining causes of depression
  behavioural approach says learning and environment causes depression
  cognitive says negative thinking causes depression
• It does not explain how some symptoms of depression might develop
  some depressed patients show symptoms of anger, hallucinations and bizarre beliefs e.g. Cotard syndrome is where patients believe they are a zombie
  becks theory fails to account for how these symptoms of depression may occur

Question 7

Elis’s ABC model AO1

Answer 7

Elis proposed depression is caused by irrational beliefs, ABC model was devised by him to explain how irrational and negative beliefs are formed:

Activating event- patients record events leading to negative thinking and this is triggered by an event in the environment around them such as exam failure, or getting fired from work. This negatively impacts mood and outlook.

Beliefs- patients record their thoughts associated with the event (rational or irrational), e.g. they feel stupid for failing the exam. Examples may be recording thoughts in a diary or journal so they can keep track of their thinking.

Consequences- patients record emotional response to their beliefs. Irrational beliefs can lead to negative emotions such as feeling upset. E.g. failing maths can lead to demotivated feelings which can cause them to drop out of a class.

Question 8

Mustabatory thinking

Answer 8

Ellis identified that mustabatory thinking can cause irrational and negative thinking that can be emotionally damaging and lead to depression.
These include ‘I must be loved by everyone’ and ‘I must excel in all areas… otherwise i am worthless’
People holding these beliefs are bound to be disappointed as their expectations are unrealistic.

Question 9

Advantages of Ellis’s ABC model

Answer 9

• Research support - Bates (1999) found that depressed participants who were given negative thought statements became more and more depressed which supports the view that negative thinking helps to cause depression
• The ABC model is based on sound scientific evidence that permits objective testing.

Question 10

Ellis’s ABC model disadvantages

Answer 10

• Cause and effect needs to be established- does depression or negative thinking occur first?
• It blames the client when looking at the causes of depression - it could mean that situational factors that have helped to cause the depression are overlooked e.g. family problems
• Criticised by biological approach - biological approach suggests that genes and neurotransmitters (low levels of serotonin) may cause depression - Zhang (2005) found that there is a gene related to depression that makes it ten times more likely for someone to develop the illness