Cognitive Theory of Personality

Cognitive Theory of Personality

• Cognitive therapists focus on how thinking affects personality, highlighting the role of automatic thoughts in personality development.
• Automatic thoughts reflect individual beliefs or cognitive schemas, influencing decision-making and life interpretations.

Cognitive Distortions

• Cognitive distortions are inaccurate thought patterns that lead to dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
• These distortions include various forms of flawed thinking that impact emotional well-being.

Causation and Psychological Disorders

• Psychological distress arises from a mix of biological, environmental, and social factors; often, no single cause exists.
• Early childhood events can foster maladaptive thinking patterns, resulting in unrealistic goals and poor assumptions.

Automatic Thoughts

• Key to Beck's cognitive therapy, automatic thoughts occur involuntarily and may be extreme or distorted in psychological disorders.

Cognitive Schema

• Cognitive schemas originate in childhood and evolve through life experiences, creating fundamental beliefs about self and the world.

Early Maladaptive Schemas

• Five domains categorize early maladaptive schemas:
  • Disconnection & Rejection: Belief that needs for safety and empathy are unpredictably unmet.
  • Impaired Autonomy and Performance: Conviction of inadequacy and inability to manage responsibilities.
  • Impaired Limits: Difficulty respecting others’ rights and cooperating while managing one's own behavior.
  • Other Directedness: Prioritizing others' needs over self for love and acceptance.
  • Over-vigilance and Inhibition: Suppressing feelings to meet high expectations; leads to anxiety.

Cognitive Schemas in Therapy

• Cognitive schemas encompass how patients view their world and significant beliefs, shaping their perceptions of people and events.

Types of Cognitive Schemas

• Schemas may be classified as:
  • Positive [adaptive]: Support beneficial thoughts and behaviors.
  • Negative [maladaptive]: Lead to harmful thinking patterns.

Schemas

• Schemas emerge from personal experiences and social interactions, influencing individuals’ vulnerability to psychological distress.
• Negative schemas often manifest as anxious thoughts, exemplifying cognitive vulnerability.

Schema Dimensions

• Active vs. Inactive: Active schemas operate in daily life; inactive schemas activate during specific events.
• Compelling vs. Non-compelling: Compelling schemas, learned early, are reinforced by family and society.
• Changeable vs. Non-changeable: Changeable schemas are easier to modify; some schemas, like religious beliefs, tend to remain stable.

Cognitive Distortions (Revisited)

• Cognitive distortions arise from ineffective information processing and include:
  • All-or-nothing thinking: Viewing situations in black-and-white terms.
  • Selective abstraction: Focusing on one aspect of a situation that supports a negative mindset.
  • Mind reading: Assuming knowledge of others' thoughts.
  • Negative prediction: Expecting bad outcomes without evidence.
  • Catastrophizing: Exaggerating concerns from singular events to amplify fear.
  • Overgeneralization: Drawing broad conclusions from specific instances.