Outline two cognitive explanations for depression (6 marks).

One cognitive explanation involves Ellis’s ‘ABC Model’ (1962). Ellis explains that the key to depression lies in irrational thinking. ‘A’ represents an activating event - for instance being fired from work. ‘B’ represents a belief associated with this event which can be rational or irrational – for instance, “because my workplace was overstaffed” or conversely, “because they have always hated me”. ‘C’ represents the consequence of the belief – a rational belief leads to a healthy emotion such as acceptance, whereas an irrational belief leads to maladaptive thinking. Therefore, Ellis concluded that irrational thinking leads to depression. The source of irrational belief lies in musturbatory thinking; that certain ideas must be true in order for one to be happy. This includes ‘I must be approved of’, ‘I must do well, or I am worthless’ or perhaps ‘the world must give me happiness, or I will die’. According to Ellis, it is this type of thinking that should be challenged. A second cognitive explanation includes Beck’s ‘Negative Triad’ (1967). The centre of Beck’s theory involves the idea of a negative schema. This schema is a mental representation created during childhood and involves a negative view of the world. For example, a child receiving criticism from a teacher and therefore expecting to fail. The adopted schema is then applied to a new, similar situation whereby a cognitive bias is created. In this example, the individual consequently fails the exam. This type of thinking is expressed through his triad. First, the schema causes a negative view of the self, such as, ‘I never do well’. Second, a negative view of the world such as ‘I can understand why I never get approval’. Thirdly, a negative view of the future such as ‘I will never pass my upcoming exams’. According to Beck, this explains depression due to pessimistic, irrational thinking.