A03

• What is a strength? (supporting evidence)

  -Grazioli and Terry (2000) assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before birth.

  -Those women with this specific diathesis were more likely to suffer post natal depression than those who did not

  -this means that the cognitive approach could be used to identify vulnerability in people and trigger interventions to delay or prevent the progress of depression
• What is another strength (real world application)

  -Beck's theory has good application for treating depression, e.g.

  -CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is used to identify, challenge and change irrational thoughts so that depression symptoms recede

  -This is a strength of the theory as it demonstrates its external validity i.e. it can be used in real settings to help real people suffering from depression
• What is a weakness? (complex disorder)

  -Beck's theory cannot explain all aspects of depression

  -depression is a complex disorder and so this theory cannot account for depression characteristics such as anger and hallucinations

  -therefore depression cannot be explained by this theory alone which only explores cognitive thinking
• What is another weakness (reductionist)

  -Beck’s theory does not consider the influence of biological factors in depression

  -Biological approach suggests that depression is caused by chemical imbalances. too much serotonin can lead to depression.

  -this means that Beck's theory does not take a fully holistic approach to explaining depression, viewing it as cognitive only