Approach

• Computer analogy: What are the 3 stages of our mind like a computer?

  • Input (of info from our senses via the environment)
  • Process (info is transferred or stored using our internal processes e.g. memory, language, thinking)
  • Output (emotional or behavioural response e.g. decisions and actions taken)
• What is the hostile attribution bias?

  A type of faulty cognitive processing

  Individuals tend to interpret the behaviour of others, especially in ambiguous situations, as threatening or malicious. Often results in aggressive behaviour
• Name 3 different internal mental processes

  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Perception
  • Language
  • Thinking
• Briefly describe the internal mental processes assumption

  We use the full range of internal mental processes (attention, memory, language, & thinking) to gather and process info. They all work together (interdependently) to help us respond appropriately to the world around us
• What are schemas?

  A cluster of facts (or organised packets of info) stored in long-term memory. They help use to quickly understand a new situation and know how to behave appropriately
• How are schemas built up

  They are usually based on past experiences but can also be refines (adjusted) through new experiences/interactions
• Which stage of the computer analogy does CBT work on changing

  Process
• What are the main components of CBT

  • Cognitive restructuring
  • Dysfunctional thought diary
  • Pleasant activity scheduling
• What is the aim of the dysfunctional though diary

  To help the client gain insight into and identify the automatic faulty/irrational thought process that are causing their depression, anxiety or anger issues

  They can then start to consider alternative rational ways of thinking about life events
• What is pleasant activity scheduling

  A form of behavioural strategy that helps the client manage their symptoms

  The client plans a pleasant activity each day during therapy. It should be something that produces a sense of accomplishment (such as going for a run) or a total break form routine/distraction form symptoms (e.g. going to the cinema)
• If you have a negative cognitive triad what are the 3 things you have negative schemas about?

  • Yourself
  • The world
  • The future
• What evidence is there to support CBT's effectiveness?

  Kuipers - 60 people with medication resistant Sz

  Randomly allocated to receive CBT and standard care, or standard care alone.

  CBT condition = 50% improved, only 1 person got worse

  Standard = 31% improved, 3 got worse, 1 committed suicide
• When is CBT not effective

  X - when the 'input' is a realistic stressor e.g. bereavement or serious illness

  X - of client drops out - requires commitment and motivation e.g. some criminals don't like to reflect on their thinking/ Sz's may refuse to cooperate
• The effectiveness of CBT is partly due to what?

  X- Therapists competence

  X- Level of commitment and motivation of the client, as well as ability to reflect on own though processes
• Give an ethical issue associated with CBT

  + allows patient to freewill and avoid the 'chemical straightjacket'

  + empowering

  X 'blames' individual - may cause psychological harm

  X lack of voluntary consent for some vulnerable individuals
• How many student ppts were in experiment of L+P

  45
• In experiment 1, the ppts were split into how many groups

  5 groups = smashed, collided, bumped, hit and contacted
• Which group gave the highest and lowest speed estimation in L+P experiment 1

  Smashed - 40.8 mph

  Contacted - 31.8 mph
• What were the speed estimations of all 5 groups in L+P groups in L+P experiment 1

  Smashed - 40.8 mph

  Collided - 39.3 mph

  Bumped - 38.1 mph

  Hit - 34.0 mph

  Contacted - 31.8 mph
• How many ppts took part in L+P

  150
• How many groups were the ppts in experiment 2 of L+P split into

  3 groups:

  Group 1 - How fast were the cars going when they 'smashed' into each other?

  Group 2 - How fast were the cars going when they 'hit' each other?

  Group 3 - weren't asked about the speed of the cars
• How long later were they asked if they had seen broken glass

  1 week
• How many stated they saw glass in experiment 2 of L+P in each group

  Smashed - 16

  Hit -7

  Control - 6
• L+P concluded that what 2 types of info form an EW memory

  The leading question (post event info) is combined with the original memory of the accident to create a new memory
• What is an issue with the lab setting of L+P

  X - Artificial - lacks ecological validity. Ppts watched filmed video clips of car accidents rather than real accidents
• What are the 3 themes in the reliability of EWT debate

  • Post event information
  • Crimes are emotive experiences
  • Presence of a weapon
• EWT are reliable despite misleading post even info

  L+P have low external validity. Lab based & ppts knew the events they witnessed were not 'real' events. Therefore they had none of the emotional response of a real EW
• Crimes are emotive which affects accuracy of memory

  'Motivated forgetting' ppl forget unwanted memories, either consciouslt or unconsciously

  Freud - ego defence mechanism (repression) which helps the ego manage anxiety but, effectively means that these painful memories are forgotten

  Briere & Conte - sample of 267 adults who had been abused as children, 59% could identify times in their childhood when they had no recollection the abuse was occuring
• Crimes are emotive but this makes EWT more reliable

  Flashbulb memory - adrenaline may improve the storage of the memories

  Cahill & McGough found that ppts were more likely to recall details of a distressing story (boy whose feet were severed) than those who heard mundane story (about a hospital visit)
• EWT not reliable due to post event info

  Loftus and Zanni found that 7% of those asked 'did you see a broken headlight reported seeing one where as 17% of those asked 'did you see the broken headlight' reported seeing one
• EWT reliable despite misleading post even info 


  Loftus - ppts shown slides of male stealing red bag. The ppts were later told the bag was brown. 98% remembered that the bag was red. This suggests the EW recall may not be affected by misleading info so they are reliable
• Presence of a weapon makes EW less reliable

  Johnson & Scott - ppts overhead a discussion.

  In 1 condition, they heard a discussion about the lab failure & a confederate walked through holding a pen.

  In 2nd, they heard a heated exchange, smashed glass & a confederate running holding a bloodied letter opener

  Found that those in non-weapon identified confederate better than those in weapon condition
• EW reliable despite the presence of a weapon

  Yuille & Cutshall - armed robbery (robber holding a gun). Stole guns and money from a guns store. Even when the gun was fired, the EW recalled incidences of event accurately. This shows that weapons can't make EWT unreliable
• Presence of a weapon makes EW less reliable

  Weapon focus effect

  Weapon = anxiety = focus attention on weapon and not face of target = unreliable EW
• Reductionist / Hollistic

  Less reductionist - Machine reductionism - mind in terms of computer

  However, it states the 'software' in our brain comes from the environment
• Deterministic / Free will

  Soft deterministic - assumes behaviour and emotions are the result of our internal mental processes. However, in CBT we are able to actively choose other ways of processing things that happen to us
• Scientific?

  + large body of rigorous, highly controlled and objective experimental evidence (L+P)

  + established itself as extremely scientific field which is well respected by other scientists and the public due to its ability to establish causal relationships between cognitions and behaviours
• Effective therapy?

  Yes - CBT is a dominant therapy used in clinical psychology for treating depression, anxiety and more.

  Kuipers - 50% of a group showed improvements when CBT used as part of their treatment