Cognitive approach to explaining depression

• Ellis’ (1962) ABC model proposed that when an activating event (A) leads to an irrational belief (B), the consequences of this (C) may be depression
• Masturbatory thinking is the source of irrational beliefs like “I must be approved of by important people” and “I must do well or I am worthless”. People who hold these beliefs may become depressed
• Becks (1967) negative triad model described how childhood experiences, like continual parental criticism or rejection by others, lead to negative cognitive schemas developing. These are activated in situations similar to those present when these schemas were learned
• These systematic negative schemas, and cognitive biases such as generalisation, lead to depression
• Negative schema maintain the negative triads of beliefs. These concerns the self, the world and the future