Cognitive theories suggest that depressed individuals experience cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs that contribute to their mood disturbances. Beck's depression theory proposes that depressed people tend to develop negative cognitive schemas, such as overgeneralization from negative events, illogical thoughts about themselves, and dichotomous thinking. A perspective study found a possible link between certain cognitive styles and the later development of depression. Additionally, social and cultural factors can influence depression risk. Research by Brown and Harris determined that lack of social support, unemployment, several young children, loss of a parent early in life, and a history of abuse increased vulnerability to depression. Collectivist cultures tend to have lower depression rates than individualist cultures. Women are also more likely to experience clinical

1. 01/02/2012 SL Psychology AssiaChelaghma
Cognitive Level of Analysis: Cognitive factors in
depression (153/157)
Cognitive theories suggest that depressed distortions and irrational beliefs produce the
disturbances of mood.
Cognitive Style Theory by Ellis
People draw false conclusions about events, which lead to feelings of anger, anxiety or
depression.
𝐼𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑓 → 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 → 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔
Depression Theory by Beck
Depressed people tend to construct negative cognitive triads, they are:
 Overgeneralisation based on negative events
 Non-logical interference about the self
 Dichotomous thinking which is the black and white thinking
The negative schemas are activated by stressful events. They distort truths in people’s minds
and lead them to depression. Most people who suffer from depression exhibit irrational beliefs
and cognitive biases such as extreme criticism and pessimism.
Perspective Study by Frude:
A perspective study is a study in which participants are chosen on a basis of a variable and
then followed to see what happens long term. There is a possible link between th cognitive
style and the development of depression.
Social level of analysis: Social and cultural factors in depression
Brown and Harris found that 29 out of 32 women who became depressed experienced a
severe life event. Previous stressful events may lead to depression.
Brown suggested a vulnerability model of depression. It is consisted of the factors that may
lead to depression:
 Lacking employment away from home
 Absence of social support
 Having several young children at home
 Loss of mother at young age
 History of childhood abuse

2. 01/02/2012 SL Psychology AssiaChelaghma
Collectivist countries have lower level of depression compared to individualist countries.
Each culture has its own patterns of depression.
Gender consideration in major depressive disorder:
Women are two to three times more likely to become clinically depressed than women
because women are more emotionally than men.
Research in psychology
The theory of social factors in depression (Brown and Harris)

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