Outline and evaluate cognitive approach to explaining depression.
1. Development of therapy.
A01: negative thoughts cause depression. E.g negative self-schema. This motion is the leading drive
to the development of CBT
A03: in CBT, irrational thoughts are challenged by the therapist and are replaced by more positive and
rational ones. Ellis claimed 90% success rate. The usefulness of CBT as a therapy supports the
effectiveness of the cognitive approach (CA). If depression is alleviated by disputing irrational
thinking, then such thoughts had some role in depression. However, cause and effect, leading to
questions about the validity of the CA. Perhaps negative thinking may develop because of depression,
leading to questions about the validity of the CA.
2. The client is responsible for behaviour.
A01: Beck's negative triad
A03: CA suggests that it is the client who is responsible for the cognition and behaviour highlighting
the internal attribution. It is a strength because it gives the client the power to change the way they
and act. However, also a limitation because could lead to “blame” being placed on the client for
having “irrational” thought processes. + may lead the client and the therapist ignoring situational
factors.
3. Depressed people may be more realistic.
A03: Hammer and Krantz found that depressed people make more errors in logic when interpreting
written material.
However, not all irrational beliefs are irrational. Alloy and Abramson (1979) found that depressed
people more accurate estimates of the likelihood of a disaster than non-depressed people.
Undermines CA as suggests that irrational thinking might not me a state of depression.
4. Biological approach
A01: The role of neurotransmitters and genes
A03: Zhang 2005 found out that gene related to low levels of serotonin (SERT) was 10 times more
common in depressed people. + Success of drug therapies suggests that
chemical imbalance does play a role; the medication alters the level of neurotransmitters and reduces
the symptoms.
Perhaps diathesis-stress model. An individual with a genetic vulnerability for depression is more
prone to the effects of living in a negative environment, hence develop irrational thinking
1. Development of therapy.
A01: negative thoughts cause depression. E.g negative self-schema. This motion is the leading drive
to the development of CBT
A03: in CBT, irrational thoughts are challenged by the therapist and are replaced by more positive and
rational ones. Ellis claimed 90% success rate. The usefulness of CBT as a therapy supports the
effectiveness of the cognitive approach (CA). If depression is alleviated by disputing irrational
thinking, then such thoughts had some role in depression. However, cause and effect, leading to
questions about the validity of the CA. Perhaps negative thinking may develop because of depression,
leading to questions about the validity of the CA.
2. The client is responsible for behaviour.
A01: Beck's negative triad
A03: CA suggests that it is the client who is responsible for the cognition and behaviour highlighting
the internal attribution. It is a strength because it gives the client the power to change the way they
and act. However, also a limitation because could lead to “blame” being placed on the client for
having “irrational” thought processes. + may lead the client and the therapist ignoring situational
factors.
3. Depressed people may be more realistic.
A03: Hammer and Krantz found that depressed people make more errors in logic when interpreting
written material.
However, not all irrational beliefs are irrational. Alloy and Abramson (1979) found that depressed
people more accurate estimates of the likelihood of a disaster than non-depressed people.
Undermines CA as suggests that irrational thinking might not me a state of depression.
4. Biological approach
A01: The role of neurotransmitters and genes
A03: Zhang 2005 found out that gene related to low levels of serotonin (SERT) was 10 times more
common in depressed people. + Success of drug therapies suggests that
chemical imbalance does play a role; the medication alters the level of neurotransmitters and reduces
the symptoms.
Perhaps diathesis-stress model. An individual with a genetic vulnerability for depression is more
prone to the effects of living in a negative environment, hence develop irrational thinking
