essay plan

1. QUESTION:
Describe and evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining depression (12 marks)
PLAN:
AO1
 Cognitive approach = thinking impacts
behaviour
 Focus on irrational thinking
 Ellis ABC Model – explain and example
 Irrational thinking lies in musturbatory
thinking – challenge ‘musts’ = mental
healthiness
 Becks negative triad
Interact, interfere with cognitive thinking –
lead to negative thoughts
 Negative schemas – prone to logical
thinking errors
AO2
 Support – Bates et al.(negative automatic-
thought statements) : negative thinking
leads to depression
 Support - Hamman and Krantz (more
errors in logic) : depression is linked to
irrational thinking
 Client is responsible – no situational
factors
 Irrational beliefs can be rational – ‘sadder
but wiser’ effect
 There is a link – not a cause