Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression Flashcards
(20 cards)
AO1
- Cognitive Approach – The term ‘cognitive’ has come to mean ‘mental processes’ so this approach is focused on how our mental processes (e.g. thoughts, perceptions, attention) affect behaviour
- Negative triad – Beck proposed that there are three kinds of negative thinking that contribute to becoming depressed: negative views of the world, the future and the self. Such negative views lead a person to interrupt their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerable to depression
- ABC model – Ellis proposed that depression occurs when an activating event (A) triggers an irrational belief (B) which in turn produces a consequence (C) i.e. an emotional response like depression. The key to this process is the irrational belief
- Depression – a mental disorder categorised by low mood and low energy levels
- Behavioural – ways in which people act
- Emotional – related to a persons feeling or mood
- Cognitive – refers to the process of ‘knowing’ including thinking, reasoning, remembering, believing
AO3 (1) cognitive approach to explaining depression
- A strength of Beck’s explanation for depression is that it has good supporting evidence
- For example, Clark and Beck (1999) identified that not only were these cognitive vulnerabilities more common in depressed people but they preceded in depression
- This is a strength as it is evidence to support the idea that cognitive vulnerability way of thinking may predispose a person to become depressed, for example, faulty information processing, negative self-schema and the cognitive triad and shows that cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression
- However, some psychologists may argue that Beck is able to explain symptoms related to cognitive processing but does not address other common/uncommon symptoms e.g. individuals feeling angry, showing that the evidence is limited reducing its usefulness
- Despite this, the evidence shows that there is an association between cognitive vulnerability and depression
- Thus increasing the validity of Beck’s explanation for depression
AO3 (2) cognitive approach to explaining depression
- A weakness of Ellis’s ABC model is that it only explains reactive depression and not endogenous depression
- For example, Ellis focuses on how depression is often triggered by life events called ‘activating events’ called reactive depression and how we respond to negative life events also seems to be at least partly the result of our beliefs but there are many cases of depression that are not traceable to life events and it is not obvious what leads the person to become depressed at a particular time
- This is a weakness as he does not include other possible explanations for depression that cannot be traced back to life events or ‘activating events’, thus reducing the reliability of his model for explaining only reactive depression and not endogenous depression
- However, it can be argued that although it does not provide a full explanation for depression, it is still useful as the application of the ABC model in REBT does appear to make at least some depressed people achieve more resilience and feel better
- Despite this, Ellis’s model only provides a partial explanation for cases in depression and is less useful for explaining endogenous depression
- Thus reducing the validity of Ellis’s ABC model
AO3 (3) cognitive explanation to explaining depression Ellis version
- A strength of the cognitive explanations of depression is their real-world application
- For example, Ellis’s approach to cognitive therapy is called rational emotive behaviour therapy or REBT for short. The idea of REBT is for the therapist to vigorously argue with a depressed person.
- This a strength as through this method, the therapist can alter the irrational beliefs that are making them unhappy, thus showing its effectiveness of treating depression
- However, it can be argued that Ellis’s ABC model is limited as there are some aspects to depression that are not particularly well explained by cognitive emotion like how some depressed people feel extreme anger, and some experience hallucinations and delusions
- Despite this, there is some evidence to support the idea that REBT can both change negative beliefs and relive the symptoms of depression, which means that REBT has real-world value
- Thus increasing the ecological validity of Ellis’s cognitive approach to explaining depression
AO3 (4) cognitive approach to explaining depression Beck’s version
- A strength of the cognitive explanations of depression is their real-world application
- For example, Cohen et al concluded that assessing cognitive vulnerability allows psychologists to screen young people and can also be applied in CBT
- This is a strength because it allows psychologists to identify those most at risk of developing depression in the future so that they can be monitored, which is effective as they work to alter the kind of cognitions that make people vulnerable to depression, in turn making them more resilient to negative life events
- However, it can be argued that Beck’s cognitive model of depression is limited as there are some aspects to depression that are not particularly well explained by cognitive emotion like how some depressed people feel extreme anger, and some experience hallucinations and delusion
- Despite this, the understanding of cognitive vulnerability is useful in more than one aspect of clinical practice, therefore showing its usefulness
- Thus increasing the ecological validity of Beck’s cognitive approach to explaining depression
explain the ao3s for the cognitive approach to explaining depression
strength - Beck - good supporting evidence, not only did these cog vulnerabilities more common in depressed ppl but preceded in depression found by Clark and Beck (1999) showing how cog vuln way of thinking may dispose a person to become depressed like negative self-schema or cognitive triad & shows cog vuln predicted later depression, however explain some symptoms but not addressing others like individuals feeling angry, despite this, shows association between cog vuln and depression
weakness - Ellis- only explains reactive depression not endogenous, focuses on how depression is triggered by life events called ‘activating events’ = reactive depression but many cases don’t trail to this and its not obvious why they’re depressed showing weakness cuz only shows life events as the explanation thus lacking, however it does work ABC model application in REBT as it makes at least some depressed people feel better, despite this only provides partial explanation for cases in depression and less useful for explaining endogenous depression
3/4 strength - real world application
Ellis - REBT therapist rigorously argue with depressed person, strength as they can alter irrational beliefs making them unhappy, however limited as some aspects are not well explained by cog emotion like hallucinations/delusions, despite this evidence can show REBT = change negative beliefs and relieves symptoms of depression so real world value
Beck - Cohen et al concluded assessing cog vuln allows psychs to screen young ppl & can be applied to CBT, shows who’s more at risk of developing it in future so they can be monitored & alter cognitions to make them more resilient to negative life events, however limited as some aspects are not well explained by cog emotion like hallucinations/delusions, despite this understanding cog vuln is useful in more than 1 aspect of clinical practice
what is the cognitive approach to explaining depression
The underlying assumption of the cognitive explanation is that depression is the result of disturbance in ‘thinking’. 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 faulty and negative thinking, cognitive explanations are particularly appropriate.
what are the two examples of the cognitive approach to explaining depression
Ellis’ ABC model
Beck’s Theory
what is Ellis’s ABC model
Ellis’s ABC model was developed to explain responses to negative events and how people react differently
to stress and adversity. Ellis emphasises the role of the situation or event that can trigger irrational
thoughts. Ellis used the ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional
state.
what does ABC stand for and mean
A - Activating event
B - rational/irrational belief
C - healthy/unhealthy emotion
A refers to an activating event (e.g. you get fired at work)
B is the belief about why the event occurred, which may be rational or irrational (e.g. ‘The company was overstaffed’ or ‘I was sacked because they’ve always had it in for me’).
C is the consequence- the feelings and behaviour the belief now causes. Rational beliefs lead to healthy emotions (e.g. acceptance) whereas irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotional and behavioural
consequences (e.g. depression)
what is mustabatory thinking
The source of irrational beliefs lies in mustabatory thinking- thinking that certain ideas or assumptions must be true in order for an individual to be happy.
Ellis identified a range of irrational beliefs:
I must be approved of or accepted by people I find important.
I must do well or very well, or I am worthless.
An individual who fails an exam may experience depression not because they have failed the exam but because they hold an irrational belief regarding that failure (e.g. ‘I must always do well so failing the exam
means I’m stupid’).
what is Beck’s Theory
Beck believed that individuals experience depression because their thinking is biased towards negative interpretations of the themselves, the world and the future – the negative triad.
What is Beck’s negative triad
The negative triad involves people consistently thinking negatively about:
1. The self- where individuals see themselves as being hopeless, worthless, and inadequate i.e. ‘nobody loves me’
2. The world- an example would be ‘the world is a cold hard place’. This creates the impression that there is no hope anywhere.
3. The future- where personal worthlessness is seen as blocking any improvements i.e. ‘I will always be
useless.’
how is the negative triad maintained
Beck suggested that the negative triad is maintained by negative schemas and cognitive
biases/distortions.
what is a negative self-schema
A schema is a mental framework for the interpretation of information and is developed through experience.
Beck suggested that negative self-schemas are developed in childhood and adolescence,
which may come from negative experiences, for example criticism, abuse or bullying. These
then continue into adulthood and dominate thinking (see cognitive biases below).
We use schemas to interpret the world, so if we have a negative self-schema (information
about ourselves) we interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way.
what is cognitive biases
Cognitive biases are faulty or unhelpful thinking patterns. Beck referred to some of these biases as “automatic thoughts”, suggesting they are not entirely under conscious control. According to Beck, people with depression are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives. There is a tendency for them to make overly negative and self-defeating interpretations that lead to a lack of motivation, low mood and feelings of hopelessness.
what are common cognitive biases
Overgeneralisation- sweeping conclusions drawn on the basis of a single event. For example, a
student regarding poor performance on one test as proof of his worthlessness
Catastrophising- exaggerating a minor setback until it becomes a complete disaster. For example,
believing that if you make one small mistake at your job, you may get fired.
what are examples/types of negative self-schemas
Examples include:
Self-blame schema- makes people with depression feel responsible for all misfortunes
Ineptness schema- makes people with depression expect to fail
strengths of the cognitive approach to depression
supporting evidence - for the idea that cog vuln links to onset of depression
weaknesses of the cognitive approach to depression
issue with causation - unclear whether there is a cause and effect relationship
an interactionist approach may be more appropriate - explaining how or why depression occurs is complex
