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As you think, so you feel
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• I cant bear it. I cant stand the
  humiliating fact that Im the only woman in the
  world who cant take care of her family, take her
  place as a real wife and mother, and be respected
  in her community. When I speak to my young son I
  know I cant let him down but I feel so ill
  equipped to take care of him thats what
  frightens me. I dont know what to do or where
  to turn the whole thing is too overwhelming. I
  must be a laughing stock. Its more than I can
  do to go out and meet people and have the fact
  pointed out to me so clearly.

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The Cognitive Approach

• Emphasises the role of cognitive processes
  (beliefs, thoughts, perceptions) in causing
  psychological disorders
• Most contemporary psychological approach
• Key figures Beck and Ellis (60s)
• Uses elements derived from other approaches

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Key Assumptions of The Cognitive Perspective

• Individuals who suffer from mental disorders have
  distorted and irrational thinking which may
  cause maladaptive behaviour.
• It is the way you think about the problem rather
  than the problem itself which causes the mental
  disorder.
• Individuals can overcome mental disorders by
  learning to use more appropriate cognitions.

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The Individual is in control

• In the other 3 approaches, an individuals
  behaviour is caused by forces outside of their
  control
• The cognitive model portrays the individual as
  being the cause of the own behaviour, because the
  individual controls their own thoughts.
• Abnormality therefore is the product of faulty
  control.

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Becks Model of Depression (1979) The Cognitive
Triad

• Negative Triad (3 negative Schemata)
• Negative view of the self
• Negative view of the world
• Negative view of the future

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Try to identify the features of the Cognitive
Triad

• I cant bear it. I cant stand the
  humiliating fact that Im the only woman in the
  world who cant take care of her family, take her
  place as a real wife and mother, and be respected
  in her community. When I speak to my young son I
  know I cant let him down but I feel so ill
  equipped to take care of him thats what
  frightens me. I dont know what to do or where
  to turn the whole thing is too overwhelming. I
  must be a laughing stock. Its more than I can
  do to go out and meet people and have the fact
  pointed out to me so clearly.

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Examples of Cognitive Biases that may be used by
people with Depression
Cognitive Bias Explanation
Minimisation The bias towards minimising success in life.
Maximisation The bias towards maximising the importance of even trivial failures.
Selective Abstraction A bias towards focusing on only the negative aspects of life and ignoring the wider picture
All or nothing Thinking A tendency to see life in terms of black and white and ignoring the middle ground you are a success or a failure, rather than not good at some things but OK at others.
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Elliss ABC Model

• Activating events (A) have consequences (C) which
  are affected by beliefs (B).
• Rational beliefs
• Irrational beliefs
• Beliefs are affected by same Cognitive Biases as
  in Becks model.

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Example of Elliss ABC Model
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Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach

• Evidence for cognitive biases and dysfunctional
  thinking and beliefs in depression and anxiety
  disorders
• Therapy based on this model can be very effective
  for anxiety disorders and depression
• No account of biological or genetic factors in
  psychopathology
• The disorder may lead to dysfunctional thinking,
  rather than dysfunctional thinking causing the
  disorder (chicken/egg)
• Negative thoughts sometimes reflect an accurate
  view of the world depressive realism.
• Takes no account of situational or environmental
  factors

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Presentation of cognitive approach, using either
Ellis or Becks model

• (VAK?)
• Remainder of this lesson, and Fridays lesson.
• Presentation will be first part of Tuesdays
  lesson
• It can be a play, a radio call-in show (e.g.
  Frazier), a visual display of some description, a
  mobile to hang from ceiling, model of a person
  (somehow???). Get creative
• Must have key cognitive approach concepts, and
  must clearly explain the model, somehow.
• Each person in group must have an identified task
  to do. No freeloaders!
• If you need resources, you need to identify them
  by the end of this lesson so I can get them to
  you on Friday. (Be realistic about college
  resources!)