Ellis’ Explanation Of Depression AO3

Question 1

✅ How has Ellis’s ABC model of depression led to effective therapy?

Answer 1

Ellis’s ABC model has led to the development of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), where therapists help clients challenge irrational beliefs in a safe environment. Lipzky et al. (1980) demonstrated the success of REBT, finding that participants treated with REBT experienced significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to a control group with no treatment. This supports the idea that irrational beliefs contribute to depression.

Question 2

✅ In what way does Ellis’s ABC model provide a useful framework for understanding depression?

Answer 2

The ABC model offers a clear, structured explanation of depression, highlighting how irrational beliefs (B) in response to activating events (A) can lead to negative emotional consequences (C). This clear structure makes it accessible for therapists to use in practice, and it helps clients understand how their thinking patterns may contribute to their depressive symptoms.

Question 3

❌ Why is Ellis’s ABC model considered reductionist?

Answer 3

Ellis’s model overemphasises the role of cognition by focusing mainly on irrational beliefs while ignoring other important factors such as biological influences (e.g., neurotransmitter imbalances) or social factors (e.g., poverty or social isolation). This narrow focus means the model cannot fully explain the complex nature of depression.

Question 4

❌ Why is Ellis’s ABC model considered less holistic?

Answer 4

The model focuses on cognitive factors without considering the impact of biological, social, or environmental influences on depression. A more holistic approach would consider a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors, providing a more complete explanation of depression.