explaining depression-cognitive

Question 1

Ellis ABC model

Answer 1

A- activating event
B- irrational belief system due to masturbatory thinking: certain notions MUST be true in order to be happy
C- consequence; irrational belief=un healthy emotions

Question 2

Beck’s negative triad

Answer 2

• negative SCHEMA during childhood= adopts a negative view of the world
• this may because by parental/ peer rejection
• neg schemas are activated when encountered with a new situation that resembles the original condition in which these schemas were learned
• this leads to systematic cognitive biases
• negative TRIAD: a pessimistic and irrational view of the self, world and future in a persons belief system.

Question 3

irrational beliefs may be realistic

Answer 3

• not all beliefs are ‘irrational’, they may simply seem irrational
• ALLOY AND ABRAHMSON:: depressive realists tend to see things for what they are, unlike normal ppl who tend to have a rose-tinted optimistic view of the world
• found that depressed ppl gave more accurate estimates of the likelihood of a disaster than normal ppl
• this is called the sadder but wiser effect

Question 4

blames the client rather than situational factors

Answer 4

-cog app suggest that client responsible for disorder
- this is good as it gives the client the power to change the way things are
HOWEVER
-it may lead the client/therapist to overlook situational factors eg not considering family issues

Question 5

practical applications in therapy

Answer 5

• cog expo applied in CBT
• CBT consistently found to be the best treatment for depression specially in conjunction w drug treatment
• therapy supports the explanation: if depression is alleviated by challenging irrational thinking then this suggests those thoughts had role in the depression in the first place

Question 6

alternative explanations

Answer 6

• bio app suggests that genes and neurotransmitters may cause depression
• low levels of neurotransmitter serotonin are found in dep ppl.
• success of drug therapies for treating depression suggest that neurotransmitters do play an important role eg SSRIs
• diathesis stress approach may be advisable: individuals may inherit a genetic vulnerability for depression that is manifested when triggered by a neg environmental leading to neg irrational thinking.