the cognitive approach to explaining depression Flashcards
what is Beck’s theory of depression
American psychiatrist Aaron Beck (1967) suggested a cognitive approach to explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others
In particular, it is a person’s cognitions that vulnerability, i.e. the way they think
Beck suggested three parts to this cognitive vulnerability
what are the three parts of cognitive vulnerability
Faulty information processing
negative self-schema
the negative triad
what is the faulty information processing
when depressed we attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives
also tend to blow small problems out of proportion and think in “black and white” terms
what is the negative schema
a schema is a “package” of ideas and info developed through experience
They act as a mental framework for the interpretation of sensory info
A SELF SCHEMA is the package of info we have about ourselves. We use schemas to interpret the world, so if we have a negative self - schema we interpret all info about ourselves negative way
what is the negative triad
a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of negative thinking that occur automatically, regardless of what is happening at the time
These three elements are called the negative triad:
a) negative view of the world
b) negative view of the future
c) negative view of the self
what is Ellis’s ABC model
American psychiatrist Albert Ellis (1962) suggested a different cognitive explanation of depression
proposed the good mental health is the results of rational thinking
thinking in a way that allows someone to be happy and free of pain
conditions like anxiety and depression as defined by Ellis results from irrational thoughts
Ellis used the ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional state
what does Ellis’s ABC model focus on
A. activating event
B. beliefs
C consequences
what is the “A” activating event
whereas Beck’s emphasis was on automatic thoughts, Ellis focused on situations in which irrational thoughts are triggered by external events
According to Ellis, we get depressed when we experience negative events, and these triggers irrational beliefs
what is the “B” belief
Ellis identified a range of irrational belief
He called the belief that we must always succeed or achieve perfection “musturbation - I can’t - stand it” is the belief that it is a major disaster whenever something does not smoothly
Utopianism is the belief that life is always meant to be fair
what is the “C” consequences
when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional an behavioural consequences
e.g. if you believe you must always succeed and then fail at something this can trigger depression
