Theory: Faulty Thinking

Beck's Negative Triad

• Concept: People with depression are trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts.
• Components:
  • Negative view of themselves
  • Negative view of the world
  • Negative view of the future
• Development: Arises from negative past experiences leading to negative self and social schemas.
• Magnification: Problems are perceived as bigger than they are.

Beck’s Six Types of Faulty Thinking

1. Arbitrary Inference: Drawing conclusions with little/no evidence (e.g., assuming infidelity from a delayed text response).
2. Dichotomous Thinking: Viewing situations in black-and-white terms (e.g., success or failure).
3. Magnification: Overestimating the significance of negative events.
4. Overgeneralization: Applying one incident to all similar incidents.
5. Personalization: Assuming others' actions are intended to hurt/humiliate.
6. Selective Abstraction: Focusing on a single piece of information, ignoring the broader context.

Study 1: Alloy et al (1999)

Aims

• Investigate the correlation between negative thoughts and the development of depression.

Sample

• Non-depressed college freshmen, half with a history of depression.

Procedure

• Cognitive style assessment categorized students as high-risk (HR) or low-risk (LR).
• Follow-up assessments over several years using surveys/interviews.

Results

• HR students without depression history: 17% developed Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) vs. 1% of LR.
• HR students with depression history: 27% relapsed vs. 6% of LR.
• HR groups processed negative information faster and recalled it better than positive information.

Conclusion

• Negative thinking patterns correlate with a higher likelihood of developing depression.
• Cognitive style is crucial in predicting depression onset and relapse.

Evaluation

• Cultural Limitation: Sample limits cultural generalizability.
• Reliability: Longitudinal design strengthens findings.
• Bias: Reliance on self-report measures may introduce biases.
• Theory Limitation: Does not account for environmental or biological influences.

Study 2: Joiner et al (1996)

Aims

• Explore the role of depressive vs. anxious thinking in depression's onset.

Sample

• 119 American university students.

Procedure

• Natural experiment with stressor as mid-term exams.
• Assessed using three tests: DAS, CCL, BDI.

Results

• Increase in BDI scores linked to high DAS scores only if exams were failed.
• No correlation between anxiety and BDI score increase.

Conclusion

• Highlights the role of negative cognitive styles in depression.
• Suggests other factors may also contribute to depression onset.

Evaluation

• Ecological Validity: Real-life stressor used enhances ecological validity.
• Sample Limitation: University population may limit diversity.

Implications for Beck’s Theory

• Reinforces the importance of addressing negative cognitive patterns in therapy.
• Supports CBT principles focused on modifying maladaptive thoughts.
• Practical application in clinical practice for depression treatment.
• Emphasizes targeted therapies for youth to potentially lower depression prevalence rates.