the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Question 1

the cognitive approach

Answer 1

an approach focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour.

Question 2

in terms of understanding abnormality…

Answer 2

in terms of understanding abnormality, cognitive psychologists are most concerned with how irrational thinking leads to a mental disorder. since depression is very much characterised by negative irrational thinking, cognitive explanations are particularly appropriate.

Question 3

name the cognitive approaches to explaining depression

Answer 3

• beck’s negative triad 1967
• ellis’ abc model; 1962

Question 4

beck’s cognitive theory of depression

Answer 4

american psychatrist aaron beck 1967 suggested a cognitive approach to explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others.

Question 5

define beck’s negative triad 1967

Answer 5

beck proposed that there were three kinds of negative thinking that contributed to becoming depressed: negative views of the world, the future and the self. such negative views lead a person to their experiences in a negative way and so make them vulnerable to depression.

Question 6

beck on negative schemas

Answer 6

depressed people have acquired a negative schema during childhood; a tendency to adopt a negative view of the world. they can lead to systematic cognitive biases in thinking.

Question 7

ellis’ cognitive theory of depression

Answer 7

another american psychiatrist, albert ellis 1962 suggested a different cognitive explanation of depression. to ellis, depression result from irrational thoughts. he defined these as any thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free from pain.

Question 8

ellis abc model 1962

Answer 8

ellis proposed that depression occurs when an activating event (A) triggers an irrational belief (B) which in turn produces a consequence (C). the key to this process is irrational belief.

Question 9

evaluation points

Answer 9

• failure to account for the complex interplay between biological factors and cognitive processes in the onset of depression.
• applicability to therapeutic interventions such as CBT.

Question 10

weakness

evaluation point

Answer 10

weakness lies in its failure to fully account for the complex interplay between biological factors and cognitive processes in the onset of depression.

• it tends to overlook the significant role of genetic predispositions and neurochemical imbalances in the development of depressive disorders.
• research has consistently demonstrated the impact of low levels of serotonin and specific genetic markers on depression susceptibility (Zhang et al., 2005).
• additionally, the existence of alternative explanatory frameworks and diverse therapeutic modalities underscores the inadequacy of solely relying on cognitive explanations for depression.

Question 11

strength

evaluation point

Answer 11

applicability to therapeutic interventions such as CBT. CBT, grounded in cognitive principles, consistently emerges as the most effective treatment for depression, especially when complemented by pharmacological interventions

the core tenets of the cognitive model, as exemplified by Beck’s theory, serve as the foundation for CBT, enabling therapists to identify and challenge maladaptive cognitive patterns effectively.

similarly, Ellis’ (REBT) capitalizes on the notion that challenging irrational beliefs can alleviate depression symptoms.

empirical support for the effectiveness of CBT and REBT further bolsters the credibility of the cognitive explanation, indicating a direct link between cognitive processes and depressive outcomes (Lipsky et al., 1980).

Question 12

evaluation

Answer 12

by demonstrating the practical utility of cognitive interventions in reducing depressive symptoms, the cognitive approach not only offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying depression but also provides actionable strategies for therapeutic intervention, thereby enhancing its overall strength as an explanatory framework.