Beck's Negative Triad

• Beck claimed that depression is caused by negative self-schemas maintaining the cognitive triad: a negative and irrational view of ourselves, our future and the world around us.
• For sufferers of depression, these thoughts occur automatically and are symptomatic of depressed people.
• According to Beck, negative self schemas and cognitive biases maintain the negative triad.
• Negative views about the future: I'll never be in a relationship, no one loves me
• Negative views about the world: No one loves me because the world is unfair.
• Negative views about oneself: I am unloveable
• Negative self-schema:

  According to Beck, depressed people possess negative self-schemas, which may come from negative experiences, for example: criticism from parents, peers and even teachers.
• Ineptness Schema:

  Makes sufferers expect to fail.

  They feel useless, invaluable.
• Negative Self-Blame Schema:

  Makes them feel responsible for any misfortunes.
• Negative Self-Evaluation Schema:

  Constantly remind themselves of their worthlessness.
• Cognitive biases:

  Beck found depressed people are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, while ignoring the positives.

  They distort information.
• Overgeneralisation:

  They make a sweeping conclusion based on a single incident.

  EG: 'I've failed one end of unit test and therefore I'm going to fail ALL of my end of year 12 exams.'
• Catastrophising:

  They exaggerate a minor setback and believe that it's a complete disaster.

  EG: 'I've failed one end of unit test and therefore I'm never going to study at University.'
• According to the cognitive approach, abnormal behaviour can be caused by cognitive bias, distortion and faulty thinking.
• Making over-generalisations and catastrophising are two cognitive biases.
• A person with depression will have a negative view of the self; thinking they are a failure or unworthy of love.
• A person with depression will have a negative view of the future; will not see it getting any better in the future, so what is the point.