Cognitive Explanation

• What are the two explanations for depression?

  • Becks negative triad
  • Ellis ABC model
• What is Beck's negative triad based on?

  • The idea that depression is caused by a negative schema that has been acquired in childhood
  • Whenever a person comes across a new situation their negative scheme is activated and influences their response
• What does a negative scheme lead to?

  Faulty information processing, the person perceives everything negatively
• What are the three sections of the negative triad?

  • Negative views about the world
  • Negative views about the future
  • Negative views about oneself
• What does Ellis' ABC model say?

  It is the irrational beliefs that trigger depression not the activating event
• What does the A stand for in Ellis' ABC model?

  Activating event
• What does the B stand for in Ellis' ABC model?

  Beliefs which are irrational
• What does the C stand for in Ellis' ABC model?

  Consequence which is depression
• What are some examples of irrational beliefs?

  • Absolutist thinking - feeling like a failure when they aren't successful at everything
  • Jumping to conclusions - a friend is distracted, and you believe it is because of you. Assume things will go bad so they don't go
  • Overgeneralisation - assumes one bad result means they will fail everything
• Strength of Beck's Theory:

  • Research Support
  • Research shows cognitive vulnerability precedes depression (Clark and Beck, Cohen et al. Prospective study of adolescents)
• Strength of Beck's Theory:

  • Real World Application
  • Identify cognitive vulnerability to screen those at risk of depression, then target vulnerabilities with CBT.
• Limitation of Beck's Theory:

  • A Partial Explanation
  • Explains patterns of cognition, but can't easily explain extremes of anger or hallucinations and delusions.
• Limitation of Beck's Theory:

  • Diathesis Stress Model
  • Depression can only occur if the person has a specific gene and an activating event.