EXPLAINING DEPRESSION

• 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
• Strengths of the cognitive explanation

  Supporting research - researchers analysed online forums for people with depression, and found more instances of negative language compared to other forums. Negative thoughts. = depression
• weaknesses of cognitive explanation

  Seen as victim blaming. believes the patient can just have happy thoughts but their thoughts are not controlled

  incomplete - diathesis-stress model