The cognitive approach to explaining depression Flashcards
1
Q
Who suggested a cognitive approach to explaining why some people are more vulnerable to depression than others
A
- Beck
2
Q
What are the three parts to this cognitive vulnerability
A
- faulty info processing (we attend to negatives, blow small problems out of proportion)
- negative self schemas
- the negative triad
3
Q
What are the three elements in the negative triad
A
- negative view of the World
- negative view of self
- negative view of the future
4
Q
What did Ellis propose
A
- that good mental health is the result of rational thinking and used the ABC model to explain this
5
Q
Outline the ABC model
A
- A - activating the event, According to Ellis we get triggered when we experience negative events
- B - beliefs
- C - consequences,
6
Q
Define musturbation
A
- the belief we must always succeed or achieve perfection
7
Q
Define the ‘I-can’t-stand-it-itis’
A
- the belief that something is a major disaster if something does not go smoothly
8
Q
Define Utopianism
A
- the belief that life is always meant to be fair
9
Q
What is a strength of Beck’s cognitive theory
A
- good supporting evidence
- Clark and Beck reviewed research on this topic and concluded there was solid support for all these cognitive vulnerability factors, these can be seen before depression develops meaning Beck may be right about cognition causing depression at least in some cases
10
Q
What is a limitation of Becks theory
A
- does not explain all aspects of depression
- some patients are extremely angry and Beck cannot explain these extreme emotion
11
Q
What is a strength of Ellis’s theory
A
- it is a partial explanation
- no doubt that some instances of depression or depressive episodes can be triggered by events (reactive depression)
12
Q
What is a weakness of Elis’s explanation
A
- doesn’t easily explain the anger associated with depression or the fact that some patients suffer hallucinations and delusions
