The Cognitive Approach Towards Explaining Depression.

Question 1

Becks negative triad 1967

Answer 1

Faulty information processing- attending to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives ted to have ‘black and white thinking’
Role of schema- mental framework developed from experience for the interpretation of sensory information if a person has a negative self schema they may interpret all information about themselves in a negative way.
Beck suggested that three types of negative thinking occur automatically
1) negative view of the world
2) negative view of the future
3) negative view of the self

Question 2

Ellis abc model 1962

Answer 2

Proposed that ideal mental health is a result of rational thinking
Ellis defined irrational thinking as thinking that interferes with happiness and being pain free.
A) activating event- irrational thoughts triggered by external events such as failing an important test or ending a relationship
B) beliefs- musterbatory thinking = believing we should always succeed or achieve perfection
Utopianism= believe that life is always meant to be fair
C) when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences eg mustobatory thinking can trigger depression as a consequence

Question 3

Evaluation positives becks triad.

Answer 3

+ strength of becks cognitive model of depression is that there is supporting research
Cognitive vulnerability = predisposition fo r becoming depressed for example having faulty information processing.
Beck concluded that these cognitive vulnerabilities were more common in depressed people but they preceded the depression. This was confirmed in a more recent study by cohen 2019 showing a relationship between cognitive vulnerability and depression.
+ applications in screening and treatment for depression
Cognitive vulnerability allows screening of young people identifying those most at risk of developing depression in later life.
Also applied in cbt Woking by altering the kind of vulnerabilities to depression making them more resilient to life events.

Question 4

Evaluation positives Ellis abc model

Answer 4

+ real world applications in treatment of depression
REBT- rational emotional behaviour therapy by vigorously arguing with a patient they can alter the irrational beliefs to make them more positive.
There is evidence to support the idea that can both change negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression.

Question 5

Evaluation negatives Ellis abc model

Answer 5

• ethical issues locates responsibility for depression purely on the depressed person by effectively blaming the person
• some cases of depression not caused by activating events therefore only a partial explanation for reactive depression.