Cognitive explanations of depression
Specification: The cognitive approach to explaining depression: Beck’s negative triad and Ellis’s ABC model.
You need to know how depression is explained from a cognitive perspective. There are two theorists, Beck (1987) and Ellis (1957). Although they take slightly different approaches, they both see depression as rooted in faulty thinking.
Beck’s cognitive triad (1987) model
Beck claimed that depression is caused by negative self‐schemas maintaining the cognitive triad: a negative and irrational view of ourselves, our future and the world around us. For sufferers of depression, these thoughts occur automatically and are symptomatic of depressed people.
Negative self‐schemas: A schema is a ‘package’ of knowledge, which stores information and ideas about our self and the world around us. These schemas are developed during childhood and according to Beck, depressed people possess negative self‐schemas, which may come from negative experiences, for example, criticism from parents, peers or even teachers. Examples of negative self‐schemas are: an ineptness schema, which makes sufferers expect to fail; a self‐blame schema that makes them feel responsible for any misfortunes; a negative self-evaluation schema that constantly reminds them of their worthlessness.
Cognitive biases: Beck found that depressed people are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, while ignoring the positives. These distort information, a process known as cognitive bias. Beck detailed numerous cognitive biases, two of which are: overgeneralisations and catastrophising. For example, a depressed person may make overgeneralisations, where they make a sweeping conclusion based on a single incident, for example: ‘I’ve failed one end‐of‐unit test and therefore I’m going to fail ALL of my A level exams!’ Alternatively, a depressed person may experience catastrophising, where they exaggerate a minor setback and believe that it’s a complete disaster, for example: ‘I’ve failed one end‐of-unit test and therefore I am never going to study at university or get a good job!’
According to Beck, negative self‐schemas and cognitive biases maintain the negative triad which is a negative view of three key aspects of a person’s life which lead to depression. These include:
The self – ‘Nobody loves me.’
The world – ‘The world is an unfair place.’
The future – ‘I will always be a failure.’
Ellis’s (1962) ABC model
Ellis took a different approach to explaining depression and started by explaining what is required for ‘good’ mental health. According to Ellis, good mental health is the result of rational thinking which allows people to be happy and pain free, whereas depression is the result of irrational thinking, which prevents us from being happy and pain free.
Ellis’s ABC model proposed a three‐stage model to explain how irrational thoughts could lead to depression.
The above example illustrates how an activating event – a friend not greeting you in the corridor – can be rationally or irrationally interpreted. Irrational thinking or interpretations lead to unhealthy outcomes, for example, depression; whereas rational and logical thoughts lead to good mental health and happiness.
Evaluation
One strength of the cognitive explanation for depression is its application to therapy. Cognitive explanations have been used to develop effective treatments for depression, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) which was developed from Ellis’s ABC model. These therapies attempt to identify and challenge negative, irrational thoughts and have been successfully used to treat people with depression, providing further support to the cognitive explanation of depression.
However, one weakness of the cognitive approach is that it does not explain the origin of irrational thoughts. Since most of the research in this area is correlational, psychologists are unable to determine if negative, irrational thoughts cause depression, or whether a person’s depression leads to a negative mindset. Consequently, it is possible that other factors, for example genes and neurotransmitters, are the cause of depression and the negative, irrational thoughts are the symptom of depression.
There are alternative explanations which suggest that depression is a biological condition, caused by genes and neurotransmitters. Research focused on the role of serotonin has found lower levels in patients with depression. In addition, drug therapies, including SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which increase the level of serotonin, are found to be effective in the treatment of depression, which provide further support for the role of neurotransmitters in the development of depression. This therefore casts doubt on the cognitive explanation as a sole cause of the disorder.
There is research evidence which supports the cognitive explanation of depression. Boury et al. (2001) found that patients with depression were more likely to misinterpret information negatively (cognitive bias) and feel hopeless about their future (cognitive triad). Further to this, Bates et al. (1999) gave depressed patients negative automatic though statements to read and found that their symptoms became worse. These findings support different components of Beck’s theory and the idea that negative thinking is involved in depression.
Possible exam questions
Define what is meant by an irrational thought. (2 marks)
Suggest one limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression. (2 marks)
Describe Beck’s negative triad as an explanation for depression. (4 marks)
Rob has recently lost his job of over ten years and his doctor has subsequently diagnosed him with depression. He has been referred to see a cognitive psychologist to better understand his condition. Describe two different explanations the cognitive psychologist might use to help Rob understand why he is suffering with depression. (4 marks)
Discuss the cognitive approach to explaining psychopathology. (8 marks)
Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining depression. (16 marks)
