>psychopathology - depression - explanations Flashcards
what is meant by cognitive explanations for depression?
-believe that depression is a result of faulty thinking
-focus on, faulty thinking + misinterpretation of events -> being the causes of depression
-believe individuals with depression have irrational/distorted thoughts -> maladaptive behaviours
how do you distinguish between rational + irrational thoughts?
-rational -> reasonable, self enhancing, accurate, logical, realistic
-irrational -> unreasonable, self destructive, inaccurate, illogical, unrealistic, turning wants/preferences -> needs
what are the 2 cognitive explanations of depression?
-Ellis ABC model
-Becks negative triad
what is Ellis ABC model based on?
-fact that its what we think about a problem rather than the problem itself that causes depression
-claimed that good mental health -> rational thinking
-developed model to explain how irrational thoughts -> depression
describe the ABC model:
-activating event, something happens in the environment around you
-beliefs, you hold beliefs about the event/situation that may be rational/irrational
-consequences, emotional/behavioural consequences due to beliefs
describe ABC model:
-activating event, something happens in the environment around you
-beliefs, you hold beliefs about the event/situation that may be rational/irrational
-consequences, emotional/behavioural consequences as a result of beliefs
what is masturbatory thinking?
-one irrational thought identified by Ellis
-belief that ideas/assumptions must be true in order to be happy
-eg I MUST be approved/accepted by those I find important, I MUST do well or I am not important, the world MUST give me happiness
-thinking these irrational beliefs are bound to lead to disappointment and depression as a result
-flip to see example of ABC model-
ACTIVATING EVENT: mary and her boyfriend split up
BELIEFS: rational -> sad situation, they were not compatible + may learn from experience, irrational -> it was all her fault, not loveable, always fail at relationships
CONSEQUENCES: desirable emotions -> sad, but hopeful she will have successful relationships in the future, undesirable emotions -> guilty that she spoilt the relationship + she is unloveable, desirable behaviours -> looks forward to forming healthy relationships in the future, undesirable behaviours -> isolates herself, never forming any new relationships saying she will only fail + get hurt again
what are becks 3 sub cognitive theories?
-negative schemas
-cognitive biases
-negative triad
negative schemas?
-people with depression thought to have negative schemas acquired through childhood eg rejection, criticism from authority figures
-causes the person to be a pessimistic + have a negative interpretation of the world
-negative schemas (eg expecting to fail) are activated each time the person enters a new similar situation
cognitive biases?
-negative schemas lead to cognitive biases -> distortions/misinterpretations of information
-overgeneralisation -> sweeping conclusions drawn of the basis of a single event eg poor performance on one end of unit test = proof of worthlessness
-catastrophising -> over exaggeration of minor setbacks believing they will lead to disaster eg failing one end of unit test -> cant study at uni -> never getting a job
negative triad?
-negative schemas + cognitive biases help to maintain the negative triad
-negative view of the self <-> negative view of the future <-> negative view of the world
advantages of cognitive explanations of depression:
-practical application, lead to development of CBT, client behavioural therapy
-research support, Krantz depressed patients made more errors in their logic when interpreting a piece of information
disadvantages of cognitive explanations?
-irrational beliefs may be realistic, Alloy + Abrahmson said thar depressed people were more accurate in their estimates about the liklihood of a natural disaster ‘sadder but wiser effect’
-hard to determine cause + effect, are faulty think patterns + misinterpretations causing depression or vice versa?
-blames patient, client takes the blame for their disorder, ignoring other factors eg environmental + even more pressure on patient
