The Basics of Cognitive Theory in Relation to the Development of Abnormal Behavior
Nicole Maloney
18th October 2011
Approved……………
Explain the basics of cognitive theory in relation to the development of abnormal behavior. Use Aaron T. Beck and Albert Ellis as theorists for reference.
If you believe the saying 'Perception is everything,' then you may well be a cognitivist. According to the cognitive perspective, people engage in abnormal behavior because of particular thoughts and behaviors that are often based upon their false assumptions.
Cognitives believe that without these thought processes, we could have no emotions and no behavior and would therefore not function. In other words, thoughts always come before any feeling and before any action.
Aaron T. Beck and Albert Ellis are major proponents of the cognitive view. Beck emphasizes the cognitive triad in depressed patients (having a negative view of themselves, the world, and their future) while Ellis focuses on common irrational beliefs that must be overcome (e.g., “Everyone must love me”). Beck and Ellis independently developed the therapy that later became known as Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT.
Cognitive therapy (CT), often labeled as the generic term cognitive behavior therapy, (CBT) has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and relapse rates, with or without medication, in a wide variety of psychiatric disorders (Beck, 2005).
Wright (2006) describes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as a pragmatic, action-oriented treatment approach that has become a widely used psychotherapy for major mental disorders. He further states that the CBT methods were initially developed for depression and anxiety disorders and later they were modified for many other conditions, including personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse; they have also been adapted for use as an adjunct to medication in the management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Aaron T. Beck was trained in Freudian psychoanalysis and
18th October 2011
Approved……………
Explain the basics of cognitive theory in relation to the development of abnormal behavior. Use Aaron T. Beck and Albert Ellis as theorists for reference.
If you believe the saying 'Perception is everything,' then you may well be a cognitivist. According to the cognitive perspective, people engage in abnormal behavior because of particular thoughts and behaviors that are often based upon their false assumptions.
Cognitives believe that without these thought processes, we could have no emotions and no behavior and would therefore not function. In other words, thoughts always come before any feeling and before any action.
Aaron T. Beck and Albert Ellis are major proponents of the cognitive view. Beck emphasizes the cognitive triad in depressed patients (having a negative view of themselves, the world, and their future) while Ellis focuses on common irrational beliefs that must be overcome (e.g., “Everyone must love me”). Beck and Ellis independently developed the therapy that later became known as Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT.
Cognitive therapy (CT), often labeled as the generic term cognitive behavior therapy, (CBT) has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and relapse rates, with or without medication, in a wide variety of psychiatric disorders (Beck, 2005).
Wright (2006) describes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as a pragmatic, action-oriented treatment approach that has become a widely used psychotherapy for major mental disorders. He further states that the CBT methods were initially developed for depression and anxiety disorders and later they were modified for many other conditions, including personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse; they have also been adapted for use as an adjunct to medication in the management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Aaron T. Beck was trained in Freudian psychoanalysis and
References: Beck, A. T. (2005). The Current State of Cognitive Therapy: A 40-Year Retrospective. Archives of General Psychiatry , 953-959. Christopher, L. H. (2004, March 23). Personality Synopsis: Cognitive Theory. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from All Psych Online: The Virtual Psychology Classroom: allpsych.com/personalitysynopsis/ellis.html Stefan, G. H. (2011). An Introduction to Modern CBT: Psychological Solutions to Mental Health Problems Wright, J. H. (2006). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basic Principles and Recent Advances. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Clinical Manual of Psychosomatic Medicine: focus.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/4/2/173