Beck's Negative Triad

• Faulty information processing - Depressed people ignore positive information and focus on negative information
• Schema is a package of information and ideas developed through experience. They act as framework for the interpretation of sensory information.
• If a person has a negative self-schema they interpret all information about themselves in a negative way.
• Back suggested that a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of negative thinking that occurs automatically.
• Negative views of the world - This creates an impression that there is no hope anywhere.
• Negative view of the future - These thoughts reduce any hopefulness and enhance depression
• Negative views of the self - Such thoughts enhance any existing depressive feelings because they confirm the existing emotions of low self-esteem.
• Strength - Research Support

  • Cognitive vulnerability refers to ways of thinking that make predispose someone becoming depressed
  • Clark and BEck concluded that these vulnerabilities preceded depression.
  • Cohen et al tracked the development of 473 adolescents - cognitive vulnerability preceeded depression.
• Strength - Real World Application

  • Cohen - Assessing cognitive vulnerablity allows psychologists to screen young people at most risk for developing depression
  • This understanding could be applied to CBT