The cognitive approach to explaining Depression Flashcards
(18 cards)
What happens if we think irrationally (2)
- We tend to draw incorrect conclusions
- Automatically attribute negative motives to other people
Name 3 examples of consequences of irrational thinking
- Mispercieve reality
- Avoid expressing opinoins, feelings and preferences
- Create unnecessary distance and conflict between ourselves and others
Give 3 examples each of rational and irrational thoughts
Rational:
- Reasonable
- Logical
- Realistic
Irrational:
- Unrealistic
- Inaccurate
- Illogical
Define 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.
Define negative triad
- Beck proposed that there were three
kinds of negative thinking that contributed to becoming depressed: - Negative views of the world, The Future and The Self.
- Such negative views lead a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerable to depression.
What is the ABC model (3)
- 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.
What are schemas and self schema
- A schema is a ‘package’ of ideas and information developed through experience. - They act as a mental framework for the interpretation of sensory information.
- A self-schema is the package of information we have about ourselves.
- We use schemas to interpret the
world, so if we have a negative self-schema we interpret all information about ourselves
in a negative way.
The negative triad
A person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of negative thinking that occur automatically, regardless of the reality of what is happening at the time. These three elements are called the negative triad.
- When we are depressed, negative thoughts about the world, the future and oneself often come to us.
Negative triad in more detail
a) Negative view of the world – an example would be ‘the world is a cold hard place’.
This creates the impression that there is no hope anywhere.
b) Negative view of the future – an example would be ‘there isn’t much chance that the
economy will really get better’. Such thoughts reduce any hopefulness and enhance
depression.
c) Negative view of the self – for example, I might think ‘I am a failure’. Such thoughts
enhance any existing depressive feelings because they confirm the existing emotions
of low self-esteem.
What are irrational thoughts
Any thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free of pain
Elis’s ABC model
A (Activating event)
Whereas Beck’s emphasis was on automatic thoughts, Ellis focused on situations in which irrational thoughts are triggered by external events.
According to Ellis we get depressed when we experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs. Events like failing an important test or ending a relationship might trigger irrational beliefs.
B (Beliefs)
Ellis identified a range of irrational beliefs. He called the belief that we must always
succeed or achieve perfection
‘musturbation’, ‘I-can’t-stand-it-itis’ is the belief that it is a major disaster whenever something does not go smoothly. Utopianism is the belief that
life is always meant to be fair.
C (Consequences)
When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural
consequences. For example, if you believe you must always succeed and then fail at
something this can trigger depression.
S- Good supporting evidence Beck (5)
- A range of evidence supports the idea that depression is associated with faulty information processing, negative self-schemas and the cognitive triad of negative
automatic thinking. - For example, Grazioli and Terry (2000) assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth.
- They found that those women judged to have been high in cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post-natal depression.
- Clark and Beck (1999) reviewed research on this topic and concluded that there
was solid support for all these cognitive vulnerability factors. - Critically, these cognitions can be seen before depression develops, suggesting that Beck may be right about cognition causing depression, at least in some cases.
Strength practical application in CBT (5)
- A strength of Beck’s cognitive explanation is that it forms the basis of a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
- All cognitive aspects of depression can be
identified and challenged in CBT. - These include the components of the negative triad that are easily identifiable.
- This means a therapist can challenge them and encourage the patient to test whether they are true.
- This is a strength of the explanation because it translates well into a successful therapy.
Limitation Beck doesn’t explain all aspects of depression (5) Similar to Elis
-One limitation of Becks explanation is that it doesnt explain all aspects of depression
- Beck’s theory explains neatly the basic symptoms of depression, however depression is complex.
- Some depressed patients are deeply angry and Beck cannot easily explain this extreme emotion.
- Very occasionally depressed patients suffer Cotard syndrome, the delusion that they are zombies Garrett 2013.
- Beck’s theory cannot easily explain these cases
Limitation of Elis’s ABC model A partial explanation (3)
- One limitation of Elis’s ABC model is that it is only a partial explanation
- There is no doubt that some cases of depression follow activitaing events, Psychologists call this reactive depression and see it as different from the kind of depression that arises without an obvious cause.
- This means that Ellis’s explanation only applies to some kinds of depression and is therefore only a partial explanation for depression.
Strength practical application ABC model (3)
- A strength of Ellis’ explanation is that, like Beck’s explanation, it has led to a successful
therapy - The idea that, by challenging irrational negative beliefs, a person can reduce their depression is supported by research evidence (e.g. Lipsky et al. 1980).
- This in turn supports the basic theory because it suggests that the irrational beliefs had some role in the depression.
Limitation doesnt explain all aspects of depression
Although Ellis explains why some people appear to be more vulnerable to depression
than others as a result of their cognitions, his approach has very much the same
limitation as Beck’s. It doesn’t easily explain the anger associated with depression or
the fact that some patients suffer hallucinations and delusions.
Total Evals:
Elis:
L-doesnt explain all aspects of depression
S-Practical application in CBT
L-Only a partial explanation
Beck:
L-Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
S-Practical application in CBT
S- Good supporting evidence Beck-Grazioli and Terry (2000) and Clark and Beck 1999
