Mod 8 Aaron Beck (Student) PDF

PSYC-1130 PSYCHOLOGY FOR SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS Cognitive – Behavioural Theory of Personality Aaron Beck Image source: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/news_releases/2012/08/beck...

PSYC-1130 PSYCHOLOGY FOR SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS Cognitive – Behavioural Theory of Personality Aaron Beck Image source: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/news_releases/2012/08/beck Approaches to Example Theorists personality development Psychoanalytic Psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud Neo-psychoanalytic Neurotic Needs & Trends: Karen Horney Individual Psychology: Alfred Adler Behavioural Reinforcement Theory: BF Skinner Cognitive Cognitive Theory: Aaron Beck Humanistic Self-Actualization Theory: Carl Rogers Positive Psychology: Martin Seligman Genetics (Trait) Five-Factor Theory: McCrae & Costa Sensation Seeking: Marvin Zuckerman Social-Learning Locus of Control: Julian Rotter  Cognitive approach (e.g., Beck) An approach to personality that suggests that behaviour is influenced by how one thinks. Our personality develops based on how we process (perceive) information about the world and ourselves. Our thoughts affect how we feel and in turn, how we behave. Image source: clip art Topics 1. The life of Aaron Beck 2. The theory of personality behind cognitive therapy 3. Schemas, automatic thoughts, & cognitive distortions 4. Dimensions of sociotropic and autonomous dimensions of personality 5. Cognitive triad 6. Cognitive therapy 7. Research in Beck’s theory The Life of Aaron Beck (1921-2021) Born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1921 Parents were Russian, Jewish immigrants Mother had extreme depression following the death of only daughter; Beck supported mother through difficult period His own struggle with anxiety led him to develop incompetent beliefs about self that he later overcame through his own cognitive work Father encouraged interest in science and nature  The Life of Aaron Beck Cont’n While studying psychoanalytic concepts he learned that people actually had specific cognitive patterns (e.g., sadness came from thoughts about loss) Depressed/anxious people had cognitive patterns that were frequently distorted These cognitive patterns affected how people feel and behave Image source: http://www.heinzawards.net/recipients/aaron-beck Image source: https://www.psychotherapy.net/video/aaron-beck-cognitive-therapy Image Source: http://www.amazon.com/Aaron-T.-Beck/e/B001IQZG72 The theory of personality behind cognitive therapy Cognitive therapy is based on a theory of personality that maintains that how one thinks influences how they feel and behave Schemas, automatic thoughts, & cognitive distortions Automatic Thoughts Are involuntary & unintentional Often occur at pre-conscious level and are difficult to stop or regulate Similar to self-monologues that can either support or berate us (e.g., fail a test….automatic thought: “I’m stupid) Controlled thoughts Are voluntary, intentional, conscious, able to regulate (e.g., fail a test….consciously thinking first about what contributed to your mark….”I didn’t study enough, the material was harder, I was a bit distracted this time….”)  I am…. Others are….. The world is….. The future is…..  Schemas, automatic thoughts, & cognitive distortions Schemas cognitive structures that consist of an individual’s fundamental core beliefs and assumptions about how the world operates Develop early in life from personal experiences Form concepts of self, others & the world that shape personality Can be adaptive or maladaptive; general or specific E.g., “unless others approve of me, I am worthless” The root of psychological problems is based in distorted thinking patterns (schemas) Image source: clip art  Categories of Core Beliefs Loveable/ Competent/ Helpless Unlovable Success/A failure Desirable/Undesirable Powerful/ Loved/Unwanted Attractive/ Unattractive Powerless Strong/ Weak Unique/Different Competent/ Good enough/Not good Incompetent enough Adequate/ Good/Bad Inadequate Controlled/ Out of Image source: clip art control  Past experiences Schemas= core beliefs  Schemas, automatic thoughts, & cognitive distortions Cognitive Distortions Systematic errors in reasoning Appears during psychological distress Stressful events can trigger an unrealistic schema (cognitive distortion) Image source: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/category/cognitive-distortions/ Cognitive Distortions Arbitrary Inference: conclusion without evidence Selective Abstraction: focus on one aspect & ignore everything else Overgeneralization: making “sweeping” generalizations Magnification & minimization: too significant or not significant enough Personalization: assuming it’s all about me Dichotomous thinking: thinking in extremes  How do cognitive distortions develop? Image source: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/category/cognitive-distortions/ Cognitive triad Perceptions of: Self the world the future Dimensions of sociotropic and autonomous dimensions of personality Sociotropic Dimension: dependence on interpersonal relationships and a need for closeness and nurturance Autonomous Dimension: independence and organized around goal setting, self-determination, and self-imposed obligations Although “pure” cases exist, most people display both features of sociotropy & autonomy Not “fixed” personality structures but rather modes of behaviour Cognitive therapy Consists of a set of well-defined therapeutic techniques that aim to remove systematic biases in thinking by correcting faulty information processing Examples: Challenging the thinking Decatastrophizing Role-play Research in Beck’s theory Beck Depression Inventory High empirical support for the cognitive theory of depression Cognitive therapy has been found to be helpful in panic disorders, OCD, substance abuse, personality disorders, marital problems, sex offenses, schizophrenia and suicide prevention Medication vs. CT