Cognitive Distortions in Negative Thinking

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Questions and Answers

Which group is reported to be three times more likely to attempt suicide compared to boys?

Girls (correct)

Young boys

Elderly women

Transgender individuals

What age group is at the highest risk of suicide attempts?

Adults aged 25-35

Children aged 5-12

Young people aged 15-24 (correct)

Adolescents aged 13-15

Which factor significantly increases the suicide risk among adolescents?

Previous suicidal behavior (correct)

Cognitive impairment

Social acceptance

High self-esteem

What is one of the major risk factors for suicide that involves family dynamics?

Poor parent-child communication Signup and view all the answers

Exposure to which type of events can increase suicide risk in young people?

Stressful life events Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological model suggests that suicide is a result of inward directed anger?

Psychodynamic model Signup and view all the answers

What biological factor is associated with increased risk of suicide?

Reduced serotonin activity Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that positive expectancies about death may motivate suicide?

Social cognitive theories Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive distortion involves viewing situations in black and white terms, without acknowledging any middle ground?

All or nothing thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which attributional style describes the tendency to blame personal inadequacies for failures?

Internal factors Signup and view all the answers

According to learned helplessness theory, what contributes to the depression experienced by individuals?

The perception of being unable to change one's situation Signup and view all the answers

Which treatment approach focuses on modifying behaviors rather than unconscious causes?

Behavioral therapy Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'magnification and minimization' refer to in cognitive distortions?

Emphasizing minor failures while dismissing successes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of the biological perspective on depressive disorders?

Cognitive restructuring Signup and view all the answers

What is a common factor that leads to the development of learned helplessness?

Frequent exposure to uncontrollable events Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive distortion involves rejecting positive outcomes or achievements?

Disqualifying the positive Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of behavioural activation in treating depression?

To increase frequency of rewarding activities Signup and view all the answers

What key concept do cognitive theorists believe is crucial in the development of depression?

Distorted thinking Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is associated with increased risk of suicide among adolescents?

Major psychological disorders Signup and view all the answers

In cognitive therapy, what do clients learn to change?

Dysfunctional thinking patterns Signup and view all the answers

What does selective abstraction refer to in the context of cognitive therapy?

Focusing solely on specific weaknesses or flaws Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about suicide and psychological disorders?

Only people with major depression attempt suicide Signup and view all the answers

What can be a significant factor that prompts suicide attempts?

Very stressful life events Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of a coping with depression course?

To teach relaxation skills and social skills Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the acute phase of schizophrenia?

Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a delusion of reference?

Believing that people on television are mocking oneself Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common feature of disorganized speech in schizophrenia?

Clear and logical flow of ideas Signup and view all the answers

What describes the residual phase of schizophrenia?

A return to a prior level of functioning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following exemplifies a delusion of grandeur?

Believing oneself to be a deity or savior Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon is defined as believing that thoughts have been inserted by an external source?

Thought insertion Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a person's functioning during the prodromal phase of schizophrenia?

Normal occupational and social functioning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of schizophrenia?

Coherent and logical speech Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the state where individuals with schizophrenia may maintain a fixed posture for extended periods?

Waxy flexibility Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of positive symptoms in schizophrenia?

Social skill deficits Signup and view all the answers

How can catatonia be described in the context of cognitive functioning?

Gross disturbances in motor activity Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'flat affect' in individuals with schizophrenia?

Reduction in emotional expression Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a state of relative or complete unconsciousness in schizophrenia?

Catatonic stupor Signup and view all the answers

What symptom is characterized by deficits in social interaction and a failure to experience pleasure?

Negative symptoms Signup and view all the answers

What behavioral phenomenon involves individuals becoming disconnected from reality, losing touch with the outside world?

Loss of ego boundaries Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is associated with catatonic behavior in individuals with schizophrenia?

Stiff or swollen limbs Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Habitual Style Of Negative Thinking

Magnifying the importance of minor failures is a sign of cognitive distortions
Common Cognitive Distortions include:
- All or nothing thinking: Viewing things in black and white extremes
- Overgeneralization: Drawing sweeping conclusions based on a single event
- Mental filter: Focusing only on negative aspects, ignoring the positive
- Disqualifying the positive: Dismissing positive experiences as insignificant
- Jumping to conclusions: Making assumptions without sufficient evidence
- Magnification and minimization: Exaggerating the negative and downplaying the positive
- Emotional reasoning: Believing that feelings reflect reality
- Should statements: Having rigid rules about how things should be
- Labelling and mislabelling: Assigning negative labels to oneself and others
- Personalization: Taking responsibility for events that are outside of one's control

Learned Helplessness

Attributional theory: Depressive behaviours are not caused by events but by how people think about and explain the events, introduced by Martin Seligman.
The theory states: People learn to view themselves as helpless to control their environment or change their life for the better.
Reformulated helplessness theory: Introduced the "attributional style" - a personal style of explaining events
Attributional styles can explain failures in 3 ways:
- Internal factors - failures reflect personal inadequacies, not external factors
- Global factors - failures reflect broad character flaws, not specific situations
- Stable factors - failures reflect fixed personality factors
These "attributional styles" lead to negative thoughts and feelings which can contribute to depression.

Biological Perspective

Genetics and neurotransmitter functioning can influence predisposition to depression and bipolar disorder.
These disorders tend to occur within families, highlighting a genetic component

Treatment Approaches

Behavioural approaches focus on modifying behaviors rather than unconscious causes.
They encourage increased participation in pleasurable activities, teaching relaxation skills, and building social skills, with the aim of breaking negative cycles.
Behavioral Activation: One of the most commonly used behavioral therapy techniques, involving increased frequency of rewarding or enjoyable activities
Cognitive approaches: Focus on identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking patterns.
Cognitive Therapy (CT): Developed by Aaron Beck, helps individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts and develop adaptive coping mechanisms.
Selective Abstraction: Focusing solely on weaknesses or flaws in character.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Known as shock therapy, ECT involves administering an electrical current to the head to induce a seizure, similar to a grand mal epileptic seizure.

Suicide

Men are more likely to die by suicide than women, often using firearms, while women tend to use pills.
Suicide stigma can prevent men from seeking help, due to societal pressure to appear strong.
Many suicides are linked to Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder, with individuals feeling hopeless and seeing no way out.
Stressful life events, particularly "exit events," like the death of a loved one, can trigger suicide attempts.
Suicide rates among the elderly are increasing.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for men and women from adolescence to middle age.

Risk Factors In Suicide Among Children And Adolescents

Gender: Girls are more likely to attempt suicide, while boys are more likely to complete suicide.
Age: Late adolescence and early adulthood (15-24) are at higher risk than younger teenagers.
Ethnicity: Canadian First Nations youth have a significantly higher suicide rate than other populations.
Depression and hopelessness: These factors, particularly when combined with low self-esteem, are significant risk factors.
Previous suicidal behavior: Repeated suicide attempts are common.
Family problems: Family instability, abuse, loss of a parent, and poor communication are risk factors.
Stressful life events: Traumatic events such as break-ups, unwanted pregnancies, legal trouble, school difficulties, and major tests can increase risk.
Substance abuse: Addiction within the family can contribute to risk.
Social contagion: Widespread media coverage of suicides can influence others.

Theoretical Perspectives On Suicide

Durkheim's Anomie: Individuals who feel lost and without identity are more likely to die by suicide.
Psychodynamic model: Suicide can be viewed as inward-directed anger that turns murderous.
Learning Theories: Suicide threats and attempts can be reinforced, and stress, particularly when combined with an inability to solve problems, can increase risk.
Social Cognitive theories: Suicide can be motivated by positive expectations, such as feeling missed or eulogized after death, and by believing that suicide is legitimate.
Biological factors: Reduced serotonin activity has been linked to suicide.
Family history: A higher number of family members with a history of suicidal behavior increases the risk for offspring

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by a marked decline in occupational and social functioning.
Hallmarks of schizophrenia: Disorganized thoughts and speech, hallucinations, delusions, and unusual behaviors.
Delusions: False beliefs that are unshakeable, despite being illogical and lacking evidence.
Delusions of persecution: Belief that people or forces intend to harm or threaten the individual
Delusions of reference: Believing that external events or objects are related to the individual
Delusions of being controlled: Feeling like their thoughts, feelings, or actions are controlled by external forces
Delusions of grandeur: Belief in possessing extraordinary abilities, talents, or importance
Common Delusions:
- Thought broadcasting: Belief that one's thoughts are transmitted to the outside world and can be heard by others
- Thought insertion: Belief that thoughts have been planted in one's mind by an external source
- Thought withdrawal: Believe that one's thoughts have been removed from their mind
Disorganised Speech: Speech characterized by illogical and incoherent thoughts, reflected in their speech patterns.
Thought disorder: Disturbances in thinking characterized by disruptions in logical associations between thoughts.
Catatonic behaviour: Individuals may exhibit severely impaired cognitive and motor functioning.
- Catatonia: Severe disruptions in motor activity and cognitive functioning
- Waxy flexibility: Individuals adopt a fixed posture and remain that way for long periods.
Positive symptoms: Characterized by abnormal behavior, such as hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, disorganized speech, and behavior.
Negative symptoms: Characterized by the absence of normal behavior, including deficits in social skills, withdrawal, blunted expressions, lack of speech, slowness, and inability to experience pleasure.
Other types of impairment:
- Loss of ego boundaries: Difficulty recognizing themselves as separate individuals, unclear about their own experiences and the outside world.
- Blunted Affect: Reduced emotional expression.
- Flat Affect: Absence of emotional expression
Acute phase: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and behavior.
Residual phase: Return to a level of functioning similar to the prodromal phase, before symptoms become severe.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Explore the various cognitive distortions that contribute to habitual negative thinking. This quiz focuses on understanding patterns such as all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and emotional reasoning. By recognizing these distortions, you can learn to shift your perspective and improve your mental well-being.