Describe and evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining depression. (16 marker)
Model Answer
Beck suggested a cognitive approach to explain why some people are more vulnerable to
depression than others. There are three parts to his theory including faulty information
processing, negative self-schemas and the negative triad.
Faulty information processing refers to the tendency of depressed people focusing on the
negatives of a situation, ignoring the positives. For example, a person with depression won
£1 million on the lottery but might have focused on someone else winning £10 million 2
weeks ago instead of focusing on all they could do with the million. Negative self-schemas
involve developing all the information about ourselves in a negative way. It is usually
developed during childhood due to rejection from peers or criticism from teachers, but can
be reactivated in a similar situation, making them vulnerable to depression. Negative
schemas maintain what Beck called the negative triad which is composed of 3 elements
including negative views of the world, the future and of the self.
One strength is that it has practical application in CBT. Beck's cognitive explanation of
depression forms the basis of CBT which aims to identify, challenge and change the faulty
thought processes identified by Beck. This therapy is very effective in reducing the
symptoms of depression and thus it is valid to suggest that faulty thoughts do play a role in
depression. However, this does not address all root causes of depression and those who
also suffer disruption with their serotonin system will benefit from treatments such as
SSRIs to balance their serotonin levels first.
Ellis used the ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts can lead to depression. It looks
at activating events, beliefs and consequences. He proposed that an activating event
triggers an irrational belief which in turn produces a consequence, which is an emotional
response like depression. He beliefs that the source of irrational beliefs lies in
musturbatory thinking which is thinking that certain ideas or assumptions must be true in
order for an individual to be happy.
One strength is that there is research evidence to suggest that irrational beliefs play a key
role in depression. Saisto et al found that those mothers who after childbirth indulged in
negative thinking patterns had increased depressive symptoms. Thus, providing support for
Ellis's ABC model of depression as the activating event caused depression, known as
reactive depression. However, this study only looked at mothers and postnatal depression
specifically. Therefore, it is difficult to assume everyone goes through the same ABC model
for different types of depression.
Model Answer
Beck suggested a cognitive approach to explain why some people are more vulnerable to
depression than others. There are three parts to his theory including faulty information
processing, negative self-schemas and the negative triad.
Faulty information processing refers to the tendency of depressed people focusing on the
negatives of a situation, ignoring the positives. For example, a person with depression won
£1 million on the lottery but might have focused on someone else winning £10 million 2
weeks ago instead of focusing on all they could do with the million. Negative self-schemas
involve developing all the information about ourselves in a negative way. It is usually
developed during childhood due to rejection from peers or criticism from teachers, but can
be reactivated in a similar situation, making them vulnerable to depression. Negative
schemas maintain what Beck called the negative triad which is composed of 3 elements
including negative views of the world, the future and of the self.
One strength is that it has practical application in CBT. Beck's cognitive explanation of
depression forms the basis of CBT which aims to identify, challenge and change the faulty
thought processes identified by Beck. This therapy is very effective in reducing the
symptoms of depression and thus it is valid to suggest that faulty thoughts do play a role in
depression. However, this does not address all root causes of depression and those who
also suffer disruption with their serotonin system will benefit from treatments such as
SSRIs to balance their serotonin levels first.
Ellis used the ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts can lead to depression. It looks
at activating events, beliefs and consequences. He proposed that an activating event
triggers an irrational belief which in turn produces a consequence, which is an emotional
response like depression. He beliefs that the source of irrational beliefs lies in
musturbatory thinking which is thinking that certain ideas or assumptions must be true in
order for an individual to be happy.
One strength is that there is research evidence to suggest that irrational beliefs play a key
role in depression. Saisto et al found that those mothers who after childbirth indulged in
negative thinking patterns had increased depressive symptoms. Thus, providing support for
Ellis's ABC model of depression as the activating event caused depression, known as
reactive depression. However, this study only looked at mothers and postnatal depression
specifically. Therefore, it is difficult to assume everyone goes through the same ABC model
for different types of depression.
