Becks cognitive theory

• Faulty information processing

  • viewing only the negatives of a situation and not the positives
  • Blow things out of proportion
  • Black and white thinking
• Negative Self schemas

  • mental framework for interpretation
  • reflect on information of ourselves in a negative way
• Negative triad

  • Dysfunctional views
  • Negative view of the world, the self, the future
  • Provide negative frameworks (often from childhood)
• May become overgeneralisation, magnification, selective perception, absolutist thinking
• Strength - Good supporting evidence

  • Pregnant women who were more ‘cognitively vulnerable’ were more likely to develop post natal depression
  • Reinforces credibility of cognitive explanation
  • However, doesnt show how this happens
• Strength - practical applications in CBT

  • Forms the basis of CBT
  • All cognitive explanations and processes of depression can be identified and challenged by CBT
  • Challenging beliefs and behaviours helps depression
• Weakness - doesnt explain all aspects of depression

  • Doesnt explain anger, hallucinations or bizarre beliefs
  • Jarrett 2013
• Economical implications

  • allows for easier and faster diagnosis and treatment, allowing for faster return to work and more motivation