psychopathology - cognitive approach to explaining depression Flashcards
intro - AO1
cognitive approach
- cognitive approach suggest depression is due to the way we think about situations/environment/information
- irrational/negative thinking = more vulnerable to depression
Beck’s negative triad - AO1
- consistent negative thinking makes a person more vulnerable to depression
- negative triad
- negative views about world e.g. world is a hard place
- negative views about oneself e.g. I am worthless
- negative views about future e.g. I will never achieve anything
Ellis’s ABC model - AO1
- (A) ACTIVATING EVENT
- external event e.g. loss of job
- triggers irrational (B) BELIEFS
- musterbation = we must always achieve perfection
- utopianism = life should always be fair
- leads to emotional/behavioural (C) CONSEQUENCES
- e.g. depression
Research to support - AO3
Cohen et al BECK ONLY
P - research to support
- Cohen et al
E - measured levels of cognitive vulnerability (way of negative thinking resulting in depression)
- 473 adolescents
E - found that those showing signs of cognitive vulnerability
- predicted later depression in life
L - supports idea that there is an association between cognitive vulnerability/negative thoughts and depression
- so Becks negative triad is appropriate for explaining depression
Research to support - AO3
Cohen et al BECK ONLY
P - research to support
- Cohen et al
E - measured levels of cognitive vulnerability (way of negative thinking resulting in depression)
- 473 adolescents
E - found that those showing signs of cognitive vulnerability
- predicted later depression in life
L - supports idea that there is an association between cognitive vulnerability/negative thoughts and depression
- so Becks negative triad is appropriate for explaining depression
DISCUSSION POINT COHEN ET AL
- Cohen et al suggest that assessing cognitive vulnerability
- allows psychologists to screen young people
- identifying those at risk of developing depression so they can be monitored
Strength - AO3
Practical applications
P - strength of cognitive approach
- practical applications
E - principle of theory - negative/irrational thoughts makes person vulnerable to depression
- led to development of CBT
E - CBT = effective treatment
- identifies irrational/negative thoughts
- challenges into rational/positive thoughts
- via disputing
L - important part of applied psychology
- used to treat people in todays world
Weakness - AO3
Cause and effect cannot be established
P - weakness
- cause and effect cannot be established
E/E - negative/irrational thoughts linked to depression
- however may not be the cause
- leading to consequence of depression
L - cognitive approach cannot be seen as full explanation
Weakness - AO3
Alternative explanation
P - weakness of cognitive approach
- alternative explanations should be considered
- e.g. biological approach
E - suggests depression caused by internal/physical factors
- such as neurotransmitters
- e.g. low serotonin = low mood
E - rather than faulty thought processes
- causing negative thoughts
L - limits cognitive approach
- not the only explanation
4 AO4 points
- research to support Cohen et al (discussion)
- practical applications (CBT)
- cause and effect cannot be established
- alternative explanation (biological explanation)
