The Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression Flashcards
How does the cognitive explanation generally explain depression?
Through faulty and irrational thought processes and perceptions.
What does the cognitive approach focus on?
maladaptive cognitions unlike maladaptive behaviours in behaviourist explanations.
What did Ellis ABC model propose?
That they key to mental disorders are irrational thoughts
What does the ABC stand for in Ellis ABC model?
-Activating Event
-Beliefs
-Consequences
In Ellis ABC model what does the activating event mean?
A negative event which triggers the on set of depression
In Ellis ABC model what does the Beliefs stand for?
A thought which can be positive or negative (negative in depression)
In Ellis ABC model what do the consequences stand for?
Rational beliefs lead to healthy consequences
Irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy ones.
What does the activating event trigger in Ellis ABC model?
An emotion which is seen as true
What is the consequence of the activating event?
The individual becomes depressed as they have a negative view about themselves and no confidence in their ability
What does Beck’s negative triad suggest?
A cognitive approach to why some people are vulnerable to depression. It is a persons cognitions that make them vulnerable.
What is faulty information processing in Beck’s negative triad?
When depressed we tend to focus on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives. Tend to blow small problems out of proportion. (think in black and white terms)
What are negative self-schemas in Beck’s negative triad?
A self-schema is information we have about ourselves. A negative self-schema we interpret all information about us negatively.
What is a negative triad in Beck’s negative triad?
Develop a dysfunctional view of themselves as the 3 types of negative thinking occur automatically. The 3 elements are a triad
According to Ellis’ ABC model what is the difference between depressed and non-depressed people?
How they perceive themselves
Beck’s negative triad is what type of approach?
A cognitive approach to explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others.
According to Beck what causes a persons vulnerability to depression?
A persons cognitions
What are the 3 categories in Becks Negative Triad?
Faulty information processing
Negative self-schemas
The negative triad
When we are depressed what are the 3 thoughts that come at us according to Beck’s negative triad?
Negative thoughts about ourselves, the world, and the future.
What is negative view of the self. Becks negative triad?
Individuals see themselves as being helpless, worthless and inadequate. These thoughts enhance existing depressive feelings as they confirm existing emotions
What is negative view of the world. Beck’s negative triad?
Where obstacles are perceived within ones environment that cannot be dealt with. This creates the impression that there is no hope anywhere.
What is negative view of the future. Beck’s negative triad?
Where personal worthlessness is seen as blocking improvements. These thoughts reduce hopefulness and enhance depresson.
What is an example of a negative view of the self?
“I am just plain and undesirable, what is there to like?”
What is an example of a negative view of the world?
“I can understand why no one likes me. They prefer someone else, even my bf left me.”
What is an example of a negative view of the future?
“I am always going to be on my own, nothing can change this.”
A strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression is that it has practical applications. (Evidence)
Beck’s theory forms the basis of CBT, where cognitive elements of depression can be identified and challenged. Ellis’ theory also leads to successful CBT as it challenges irrational beliefs.
A strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression is that it has practical applications. (Explain)
These are useful theories.
Translates into successful therapies.
Suggests negative consequences play role in depression.
Strengthens the validity of the theory.
The cognitive approach suggests that it is the client who is responsible for their disorder. It is a good and bad thing as it gives the client power to change but there are disadvantages. Why is this a problem? (Evidence)
May lead the client to overlook situational factors such as not considering how family problems or life circumstances may have contributed to the mental disorder.
The cognitive approach suggests that it is the client who is responsible for their disorder. It is a good and bad thing as it gives the client power to change but there are disadvantages. Why is this a problem? (Explain)
The cognitive approach may not be a complete explanation for depression.
Many external factors are ignored.
Negative economic implications as people don’t receive correct treatment costly for NHS and patient.
A weakness is that the cognitive approach cannot explain all the symptoms of depression. (Evidence)
Some depressed patients are deeply angry some may suffer hallucinations, and some suffer Cotard syndrome. The explanations cannot easily explain these cases.
A weakness is that the cognitive approach cannot explain all the symptoms of depression. (Explain)
Cognitive explanation lacks validity.
Can’t explain all cases of depression.
May be machine reductionist.
A strength is that a range of evidence supports the idea that depression is associated with faulty information processing, negative self-schema and the cognitive triad of negative automatic thinking. (Evidence)
Research has found that women judged to have been high in cognitive vulnerability were more likely to develop post-natal depression. A review study concluded that cognitions could be seen before depression develops.
A strength is that a range of evidence supports the idea that depression is associated with faulty information processing, negative self-schema and the cognitive triad of negative automatic thinking. (Explain)
Cognitive approach a valid explanation for depression (BECK).
This has benefits as it suggests we can use the theory to treat depression as well.
A weakness is that it has been suggested that not all irrational beliefs are irrational, they may simply seem irrational. (Evidence)
Alloy and Abrahmson found that depressed people have more accurate estimates of the likelihood of disaster than non-depressed people
A weakness is that it has been suggested that not all irrational beliefs are irrational, they may simply seem irrational. (Explain)
Depressive realists tend to see things as they are rather than seeing things through rose-tinted glasses. Which questions the validity of Ellis’ ABC model.
G
