Cognitive explanations

• Beck's cognitive theory of depression- 3 elements

  1.Faulty information processing

  2.Negative self-schema's

  3.Negative triad
• Beck- 1.Faulty information processing -

  -Beck found depressed people are more likely to focus on negative aspects of situation and ignore the positive

  -Over generalisations: making sweeping generalisations based on one incident

  -Catastrophising: Belief that a minor setback is a complete disaster
• Beck- 2.Negative self-schemas 


  -A self schema contains all the information we have about ourselves. Someone with depression may have negative self schemas, meaning they interpret information about themselves in a negative way
• Beck- 3.Negative triad 


  -Negative triad explains how people with depression have a negative view of themselves, their future and the world.

  -Negative schemas and cognitive biases maintain the negative triad, leading to an irrational view of the persons life
• Ellis' ABC model- 


  -Suggested that good mental health comes from rational thinking

  -Suggested that depression is result of irrational thinking
• Ellis' ABC model- 


  A-Activating event : a negative life event

  B-Belief : irrational interpretations of A can lead to irrational belief

  C-Consequence: emotional and behavioural outcome is depression
• Ellis' Limitation- reactive depression

  -It is only able to explain reactive depression

  -Reactive depression describes a form of depression which is triggered by negative activating events

  -However, in many cases, its not obvious what triggers depression, described as endogenous depression. Ellis' model is less useful in explaining this

  -Means Ellis' model can only explain same cases of depression and only a partial explanation for depression
• Ellis' Strength - application

  -Application in treating depression

  -Ellis applied ABC model to treat depression (rational emotive behaviour therapy, REBT, which focuses on identifying and challenging negative, irrational thoughts

  -Research has found that REBT has lasting positive effects for patents with depression (David et al 2008)

  -Shows support for the role of irrational beliefs in depression and demonstrates the real world value of Ellis' model
• Ellis' weakness - alternative explanations

  -Other explanations suggest depression is a biological condition caused by lower levels of the neurotransmitter, serotonin

  -This is further supported by the effectiveness of drug therapies, like SSRI's, which increase levels of serotonin

  -This suggests that Ellis' ABC model cannot offer a complete account of the causes of depression as it only considers only cognitive factors
• Ellis' weakness - correlational

  -Research into Ellis' model is correlational

  -Research can only suggest link between people with depression and negative, irrational thinking

  -This means we are unable to determine if negative, irrational thoughts cause depression or whether a persons depression leads to negative mindset

  -It is possible that other factors are cause of depression and irrational thinking is just an effect of depression
• Beck weakness - All aspects of depression

  -His theory cant explain all aspects of depression

  -Depression is complex disorder, so his theory is unable to account for depression characteristics such as anger, hallucinations and Cotard syndrome

  -Means it may not be possible to explain complex disorder using just his theory which explores faulty thinking
• Beck strength- Practical applications

  -His theory has practical applications in treatment of depression

  -CBT has been developed from Beck's theory. This involves challenging cognitive components of depression such as negative triad and negative self schemas

  -Means his theory translates well into a successful and effective therapy
• Beck strength -Supporting evidence

  -Range of evidence to support idea of faulty thinking and its involvement in depression

  -Grazioli and Terry assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitve vulnerability and depression before and after birth. Found that women who had been judged to have high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post natal depression

  -Supports his theory that cognitive biases and faulty thinking lead to depression in some cases
• Beck weakness - Alternative explanations

  -There are alternative explanations that may be better to explain depression

  -Biological approach suggests that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. Suggests that too much dopamine too little serotonin can lead to depression

  -Suggest we can not solely rely on cognitive approach to explain depression we must consider other factors that may play a role