COGNITIVE THEORY
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COGNITIVE THEORY |
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| COGNITIVE THEORY | Cognitive Theory assumes that most psychological problems derive from faulty thinking processes. The following figure illustrates the three bi-directional components of this theory: (1) cognitions or thoughts, (2) antecedent events, and (3) behavior. Cognitive Theory views antecedent events, cognitions, and behavior as interactive and dynamic, as indicated by the triangle. Each of these components is capable of affecting the others, but the primary emphasis is placed on cognition. The way we act and feel is most affected by our beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and interpretations. These cognitive factors serve as a template through which events are filtered and appraised. To the extent that our thinking processes are faulty and biased, our emotional and behavioral responses to what goes on in our life will be problematic. According to this theory, changing the way we think can change how we feel and behave. |
| A-B-C DIAGRAM |
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| APPLICATION | Cognitive theory was developed by Aaron Beck as a way of understanding and treating depression but has since been applied to numerous other mental health issues such as anxiety and substance use disorders. Beck believed that depressed clients held negative views of themselves, the world, and their future, and that these negative views were the real causes of their depression. He found that their psychological difficulties were due to automatic thoughts, dysfunctional assumptions, and negative self-statements. Automatic thoughts often precede emotions but occur quite rapidly with little awareness; consequently, individuals do not value themselves highly. For example, depressed people address themselves in highly critical tones, blaming themselves for everything that happens. |
| EXAMPLE | A. Sally is standing at the
copy machine in her office when she notices Jill walk by without saying
hello. Sally feels depressed and goes back to her desk wishing she got
along better with people. While Sally is busy at the copy machine,
Jill walks by and notices that Sally doesn’t look up and say hello to
her. Jill goes back and continues to work and feels happy that she is
having a productive day at work. Why does Sally feel depressed and Jill
happy? According to Cognitive Theory, the two individuals interpreted the
same event in a different manner and thus derived different feelings.
Sally interpreted Jill’s silence to mean that she didn’t care for her
when in fact Jill was just busily attending to a task. If Jill had more
time, she might have stopped to talk to Sally. Jill, on the other hand,
interpreted Sally’s silence to be a product of Sally working feverishly
on the copy machine and didn’t want to interrupt her. Jill didn’t
interpret Sally’s silence as meaning Sally did not care for her but
Sally did interpret Jill’s silence as being a product of dislike. Jill
feels happy that she is focused and able to get her work finished while
Sally becomes fixated on her inability to get along with her co-workers.
Two different interpretations and thus, two very different emotional
reactions to the same situation.
In looking at the above diagram, the silence of each individual would be the “A” or antecedent event, each individual’s interpretation of the silence would be the “B” and the subsequent feeling or consequence would be the “C”. In cognitive therapy we work to adjust the way in which an individual interprets the antecedent event (A) so that the subsequent feeling (C) is more realistic. |