Non-biological explanation of depression

Question 1

Beck took the cognitive approach to explain…

Answer 1

why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others. In particular, it is a person’s cognitions that create this vulnerability ie. the way they think

Question 2

what experiences link to a negative self schemas

Answer 2

• criticism
• rejection from parents/teachers
• unrealistic/excessive expectations
• experience of loss

Question 3

name the three factors of Beck’s negative triad

Answer 3

negative views about the world = negative views about the future = negative views about oneself =

Question 4

explain how one would ‘view the world as negative’

Answer 4

view the world as hopeless e.g. people, situations and events

Question 5

explain how one would ‘view the future as negative’

Answer 5

unavoidable negative thoughts with nothing to look forward to (“i will never get a joB!’

Question 6

explain how one would ‘view oneself as negative’

Answer 6

beliefs of thinking you are worthless, a failure, and unattractive = low self esteem

Question 7

what can the negative triad lead to? (3)

Answer 7

1. inaction
2. social withdrawal
3. avoidance

Question 8

if a person has a negative self schema…

Answer 8

then they’ll interpret all the information about themselves in a negative way

Question 9

what is an irrational belief

Answer 9

a belief that doesn’t have a basis in reality

Question 10

what did Ellis suggest irrational beliefs can lead to? What was she particularly interested in?

Answer 10

leads to self defeating emotions and behaviours. She was interested in how people overreact to events and how this is influenced by pre-existing irrational beliefs.

Question 11

explain what ABC stands for

Answer 11

A = activation event
B = beliefs (irrational/rational)
C = consequences (behaviour and emotional)

Question 12

what is an activation event

Answer 12

trigger which will lead to irrational thoughts

Question 13

what is the “i think” part of beliefs about an event

Answer 13

mustabatory thinking

Question 14

what is the utopianism way of thinking about an event

Answer 14

“life must be fair”

Question 15

give two examples of rational beliefs about an event

Answer 15

• moderate frustration
• acceptance

Question 16

give two examples of irrational beliefs about an event

Answer 16

• high frustration
• demandingness

Question 17

give 2 negative functional consequence of irrational beliefs

Answer 17

• sadness
• concern

Question 18

give 2 negative dysfunctional consequence of irrational beliefs

Answer 18

• depression
• anxiety

Question 19

explain Beck’s cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 19

irrational thinking is a symptom of depression. If someone believes they are disliked by someone, then they will form negative feelings about themselves, which reinforced their perception that they someone dislikes them.

Question 20

according to Beck, what do faulty cognitions stem from?

Answer 20

past experiences (childhood) via criticism/rejection by parents or teachers, along with unrealistic expectations and experience of loss

Question 21

state what Ellis’ ABC model says about the cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 21

irrational thoughts are triggered by an event

its a person’s beliefs that causes the depression not event itself

beliefs are self defeating so person interprets event in most negative way

= depression

Question 22

state the strengths of cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 22

• supporting study done by Evan 2005 on pregnant depressed women ie. negative thoughts = depression
• Application e.g. CBT help challenge negative thoughts

Question 23

state the weaknesses of cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 23

• negative beliefs expressed during episodes usually become positive once ep over = no causation just association
• cannot explain all aspects of depression - complex w lots of symptoms
• lacks predicative validity; doesn’t identify risk factors and cannot predict who is likely to become depressed = more of explanation of how depression triggered than how it is caused in first place.

Question 24

what is meant by mustabation?

Answer 24

the belief that one must be perfect

Question 25

what is utopianism

Answer 25

the belief that life must be fair