The Cognitive Approach To Explaining Depression

Question 1

What are the 2 cognitive explanations for depression

Answer 1

Beck’s negative triad
Ellis ABC model

Question 2

What are the three elements to becks negative triad

Answer 2

Faulty information processing
Negative self schema
Negative triad

Question 3

What is faulty information processing

Answer 3

Depressed people ignore the positives and focus on the negatives
Eg absolutist thinking

Question 4

What is the negative self schema

Answer 4

A package of ideas developed throughout experience of themselves
Depressed person interprets themselves in a negative way

Question 5

What is the negative triad

Answer 5

Beck suggested someone develops a dysfunctional view of themselves due to three types of negative thinking

Question 6

What are the three types of negative thinking

Answer 6

Negative view of world - no hope anywhere
Negative view of future - nothing gets better
Negative view of self - I am a failure

Question 7

What are the 2 strengths to beck negative triad

Answer 7

Research support
Cohen- 473 adolescents .Constant vulnerability to FIP, NSS and negative triad predicted Mayer depression.

Real world application - can be used to develop cbt, altering cognitions that make them susceptible to depression

Question 8

What did Ellis propose

Answer 8

Good mental health is the result of rational thinking (thinking in ways that allow people to be happy and free from pain)

Anxiety and depression result from irrational thoughts

Question 9

What are the three components to the abc model

Answer 9

Activating event
Beliefs
Consequences

Question 10

What does Ellis mean by activating event

Answer 10

We get depressed when we experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs

Question 11

What does Ellis mean by beliefs

Answer 11

Range of irrational beliefs including utopianism and musturbation

Question 12

What does musturbation mean

Answer 12

Belief we must always be right or succeed

Question 13

What does utopianism mean

Answer 13

Everything is always meant to be fair

Question 14

What does Ellis mean by consequences

Answer 14

When the activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences

Question 15

What is the strength to Ellis abc model

Answer 15

Real world application
Formed REBT - vigorous arguing with a depressed person to alter their irrational beliefs
Evidence supports that this works

Question 16

What is the limitation to Ellis abc model

Answer 16

Only explains reactive depression and not endogenous depression (depression that just occurs with no triggering events)
Ellis model only explains depression brought on by events or trigger so can’t fully explain it