Becks proposed that one has a cognitive vulnerability towards developing depression, through faulty information processing, negative self-schemas and the cognitive triad of automatic negative thoughts.
Beck: Through faulty information processing, the patient blows small problems out of proportion, attending to and dwelling on the negative, whilst thinking in ‘black and white’ terms.
Beck: Through negative self-schemas, the patient interprets all information about themselves from the world in a negative light, further lowering their self-confidence.
Beck: Through the cognitive triad, the patient suffers from negative automatic thoughts about the self, the future and the world.
STRENGTH OF BECK'S EXPLANATION:
Supporting research evidence
Grazioli and Terry’s evaluation of 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth.
Researchers found a positive correlation between an increased cognitive vulnerability and an increased likelihood of acquiringdepression after birth.
This supports the link between faulty cognition and depression, which is in line with the predictions made by Beck’scognitivetheory, thus increasing the validity of this theory.
2. STRENGTH OF BECK'S EXPLANATION:
More effective treatments due to better understanding
Elements of the cognitive triad can be easily identified by a therapist and challenged as irrational thoughts on the patient’s part.
Thus, it translates well into a successful therapy and the consequent effectiveness of CBT is merit to the accuracy of Beck’s cognitive theory as an explanation for depression.
Ellis proposed that an activating event (A), leads to an irrational belief (B), which results in an emotional consequence (C) in the form of depression.
The key thing in the ABC model is the specificinterpretation of the irrational belief, which is why some people have depression, whilst others don’t, according to the ABC model.
WEAKNESS OF ELLIS' EXPLANATION:
Cannot explain all types of depression
Works for those which clearly have an activating event i.e. reactive depression.
However, many suffer from depression without an apparent cause, and may feel frustrated that their concerns/experiences are not reflected in this theory.
Therefore, this suggests that the ABC model is limited at best.
STRENGTH OF ELLIS' EXPLANATION:
Practical application in CBT.
The effectiveness of CBT suggests that identifying and challengingirrationalbeliefs are at the core of ‘curing’ depression, which in turn supports the theoretical basis of the ABC model, through a specific focus on the role of faulty cognitions in the development of depression and specifically, in the interpretation of an activating event.
OVERALL WEAKNESS
Both the ABC model and Beck’s theories cannot explain all aspects of depression e.g. hallucinations, anger, Cotard Syndrome.
This can become a practical issue in that patients may become frustrated that their symptoms cannot be explained according to this theory and therefore cannot be addressed in therapy.