Describe Beck's Theory Of Cognitive Biases

Describe Beck’s (1976) Schema theory and the predictions it would make about the cognitive biases of depressed and/or anxious individuals. Discuss at least two pieces of research that have examined cognitive biases in such individuals, and explain whether the findings are consistent with Beck’s predictions.

Beck's (1976) traditional model proposes unidirectional effects from cognitive constructs on depressive symptoms (Pössel, 2011). He identified three mechanisms (Beck and Alford, 2009) that he deemed responsible for depression. The cognitive triad has three forms of negative thinking: namely negative thoughts about the self, the world and the future. As these three components interact, they interfere with normal cognitive processing,
They predispose an individual to depression, and therefore someone who has acquired a cognitive triad will not necessarily develop depression. Once the negative schema are activated a number of illogical thoughts or cognitive biases seem to dominate thinking.
3. Errors in Logic (i.e. faulty information processing) involve focussing on negative aspects of a situation while ignoring positive aspects, blowing things out of proportion and interpreting negative events as their fault. Such thoughts exacerbate, and are exacerbated by the cognitive triad and lead to depression.

P. One strength of cognitive explanations of abnormality is that there is research to support it.
E. For, example, Gustafon (1992) found maladaptive behaviours were displayed by many people with psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and sexual disorders.
E. This research demonstrates that many people suffering from abnormalities exhibit faulty thought patterns.
L. Therefore due to supporting research cognitive explanations appear to offer a valid account of abnormality.
P. A further strength of the explanations of abnormality is that it has led to the development of useful treatments.
E. Alteration of cognition is increasingly being recognised as an important element of a variety of therapies for a range of
It is not clear which comes first, the faulty thinking or the abnormality.
E. Faulty thinking may cause the abnormality but it is also possible that the abnormality might cause the faulty thinking, as often happens with depression, when individuals develop a self-defeating style of thinking about life.
L. Therefore a weakness of cognitive explanations of abnormality is that they cannot determine a causal relationship.
P. A further weakness of cognitive explanations of abnormality is that they cannot explain all aspects of depression.
E. Jerret et al (2013) suggests some sufferers of depression experience Cotard syndrome where they have a delusion that they are zombies. E. The cognitive approach is unable to explain the occurrence of this syndrome in sufferers of depression, or the anger associated with depression.
L. Therefore, a more holistic approach to explain depression may be needed to account for the complexity of symptoms

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used psychological treatment for depression. It involves identifying irrational thoughts and challenging them. Some therapists rely solely on Becks CBT, others use Ellis’s REBT, however most therapists draw on both