Discuss Beck's cognitive theory of depression
What will be an ideal response?
Beck's theory is that thinking preceded and caused depression. First, people hold dysfunctional beliefs that
predispose them to depression. These are rigid, extreme and unhelpful beliefs about the world. They create
automatic, negative thoughts that center around the cognitive triad - the self, the world and the future. Negative
beliefs and feelings about the triad are maintained by cognitive errors such as all or none reasoning and arbitrary
inference. This theory has been well supported as an explanation for many aspects of depression, but evidence
confirming it as a cause of depression is mixed.
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Ann constantly complains of a large number of physical symptoms that don't center around a particular ailment. After finding no medical explanation for her symptoms, a physician suspects Ann suffers from
a) panic disorder. b) hypochondriasis. c) conversion disorder. d) somatization disorder.
What is the focus of the behavioral explanation of somatoform disorders?
a) observing parents using regression b) mental interpretations of events in the environment c) attention and sympathy received for physical problems d) developing a defense against anxiety from stressful situations