The Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression

Question 1

How does the cognitive explanation generally explain depression?

Answer 1

Through faulty and irrational thought processes and perceptions.

Question 2

What does the cognitive approach focus on?

Answer 2

maladaptive cognitions unlike maladaptive behaviours in behaviourist explanations.

Question 3

What did Ellis ABC model propose?

Answer 3

That they key to mental disorders are irrational thoughts

Question 4

What does the ABC stand for in Ellis ABC model?

Answer 4

-Activating Event
-Beliefs
-Consequences

Question 5

In Ellis ABC model what does the activating event mean?

Answer 5

A negative event which triggers the on set of depression

Question 6

In Ellis ABC model what does the Beliefs stand for?

Answer 6

A thought which can be positive or negative (negative in depression)

Question 7

In Ellis ABC model what do the consequences stand for?

Answer 7

Rational beliefs lead to healthy consequences
Irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy ones.

Question 8

What does the activating event trigger in Ellis ABC model?

Answer 8

An emotion which is seen as true

Question 9

What is the consequence of the activating event?

Answer 9

The individual becomes depressed as they have a negative view about themselves and no confidence in their ability

Question 10

What does Beck’s negative triad suggest?

Answer 10

A cognitive approach to why some people are vulnerable to depression. It is a persons cognitions that make them vulnerable.

Question 11

What is faulty information processing in Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

What are negative self-schemas in Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 12

A self-schema is information we have about ourselves. A negative self-schema we interpret all information about us negatively.

Question 13

What is a negative triad in Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 13

Develop a dysfunctional view of themselves as the 3 types of negative thinking occur automatically. The 3 elements are a triad

Question 14

According to Ellis’ ABC model what is the difference between depressed and non-depressed people?

Answer 14

How they perceive themselves

Question 15

Beck’s negative triad is what type of approach?

Answer 15

A cognitive approach to explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others.

Question 17

According to Beck what causes a persons vulnerability to depression?

Answer 17

A persons cognitions

Question 17

What are the 3 categories in Becks Negative Triad?

Answer 17

Faulty information processing
Negative self-schemas
The negative triad

Question 18

When we are depressed what are the 3 thoughts that come at us according to Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 18

Negative thoughts about ourselves, the world, and the future.

Question 19

What is negative view of the self. Becks negative triad?

Answer 19

Individuals see themselves as being helpless, worthless and inadequate. These thoughts enhance existing depressive feelings as they confirm existing emotions

Question 20

What is negative view of the world. Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 20

Where obstacles are perceived within ones environment that cannot be dealt with. This creates the impression that there is no hope anywhere.

Question 21

What is negative view of the future. Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 21

Where personal worthlessness is seen as blocking improvements. These thoughts reduce hopefulness and enhance depresson.

Question 22

What is an example of a negative view of the self?

Answer 22

“I am just plain and undesirable, what is there to like?”

Question 23

What is an example of a negative view of the world?

Answer 23

“I can understand why no one likes me. They prefer someone else, even my bf left me.”

Question 24

What is an example of a negative view of the future?

Answer 24

“I am always going to be on my own, nothing can change this.”

Question 25

A strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression is that it has practical applications. (Evidence)

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

A strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression is that it has practical applications. (Explain)

Answer 26

These are useful theories.
Translates into successful therapies.
Suggests negative consequences play role in depression.
Strengthens the validity of the theory.

Question 27

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)

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

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)

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

A weakness is that the cognitive approach cannot explain all the symptoms of depression. (Evidence)

Answer 29

Some depressed patients are deeply angry some may suffer hallucinations, and some suffer Cotard syndrome. The explanations cannot easily explain these cases.

Question 30

A weakness is that the cognitive approach cannot explain all the symptoms of depression. (Explain)

Answer 30

Cognitive explanation lacks validity.
Can’t explain all cases of depression.
May be machine reductionist.

Question 31

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)

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

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)

Answer 32

Cognitive approach a valid explanation for depression (BECK).
This has benefits as it suggests we can use the theory to treat depression as well.

Question 33

A weakness is that it has been suggested that not all irrational beliefs are irrational, they may simply seem irrational. (Evidence)

Answer 33

Alloy and Abrahmson found that depressed people have more accurate estimates of the likelihood of disaster than non-depressed people

Question 34

A weakness is that it has been suggested that not all irrational beliefs are irrational, they may simply seem irrational. (Explain)

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

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