Psychopathology(cognitive approach to explaining depression)

Question 1

Ellis ‘ believed that a mental disorder was established through?

Answer 1

Ellis suggested that the key to establishing a mental disorder like depression was through irrational beliefs. ABC model

Question 2

Ellis’ ABC model -

Answer 2

Model which suggested how irrational beliefs are maintained each letter stood for something.

Question 3

A - (Ellis model)

Answer 3

A - refers to the activating event which is the initial trigger (getting fired at work)

Question 4

B - (Ellis model)

Answer 4

B - refers to belief about that activating event which may be rational or irrational (logical or not logical)

Question 5

C - (Ellis model)

Answer 5

C - refers to the consequence of that belief for example rational beliefs are healthy emotions and acceptance, whereas irrational beliefs suggest leads to unhealthy emotions like depression.

Question 6

Musturbatory thinking -

Answer 6

Source of irrational thinking lies in this. The idea that certain assumptions must be true in order to be happy E.G I must do well or I am worthless, I must be accepted by people I find important. A person with these suggestions is said to be at the very least disappointed.

Question 7

Negative schema -

Answer 7

Depressed people have an acquired negative schema during childhood, so they tend to adopt a negative view on the world. May be caused by other like peer rejection and criticisms from parents and teachers. These negative schemas are activated during new situations.

Question 8

Becks negative triad -

Answer 8

Negative schemas are cognitive biases, maintain what is called the negative triad. A pessimistic view point are established of the key elements in the person belief systems: the self, world, future.

Question 9

The self (Becks negative triad) -

Answer 9

I am undesirable, I’m unattractive and bore everyone.

Question 10

The world (Becks negative triad) -

Answer 10

Life experiences where the world against you, ‘people would prefer someone else’s company, even my boyfriend left me’

Question 11

The future (Becks negative triad) -

Answer 11

I am always going to be on my own and nothing will change this.

Question 12

Alternate explanations for depression (biology) -

Answer 12

The biological approach to understanding mental disorders suggests the mental disorder may be down to genes and neurotransmitters. Research has suggested that lower levels of serotonin (neurotransmitter) have been found in depressed people and also a gene which is 10x more common in depressed people. It may be a suggested for a combination of the diathesis-stress model where individuals with a genetic vulnerability for depression for depression are prone to living in a negative environment, which leads to irrational thinking. Therefore it cannot be explained through the cognitive approach alone.

Question 13

Support for the role of irrational thinking on depression -

Answer 13

Support for irrational beliefs being linked to depression. Bates found that depressed participants who were given negative-automatic statements became more depressed. So therefore theses negative irrational beliefs of negative thinking further led to depression. Suggests negative thinking may further arise in those who are depressed. Suggesting such irrational beliefs lead to depressive mental states.