Psychological Explanation of Clinical Depression (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

Rational vs irrational beliefs

• The cognitive approach assumes that depression stems from having an irrational perspective of the world and how events affect us

• Albert Ellis (1962) proposed that depression results from irrational thinking, rather than from negative life events themselves

  • It is how we interpret situations — not the situations themselves — that determines whether we become depressed

• People with depression often hold irrational or faulty beliefs about themselves, others, or the world

  • These beliefs are typically rigid, unrealistic, and extreme, e.g. 'I must be successful to be worthwhile'

• Ellis suggested that people are often unaware of these beliefs, as they become habitual ways of thinking

• Irrational beliefs can create negative emotions (sadness, guilt, anxiety) and maladaptive behaviours, forming a cycle that reinforces depression

  • In contrast, rational beliefs are logical and evidence-based, helping individuals cope better and maintain good mental health.

The ABC model

• Ellis explained depression through three key components:

  • A – Activating event:

    • A situation that triggers an irrational thought

    • E.g. your friend ignores you in the street

  • B – Beliefs:

    • How the individual interprets the event — either rationally or irrationally

    • Irrational interpretation: 'They hate me; I must have done something wrong'

    • Rational interpretation: 'They probably didn’t see me'

  • C – Consequences:

    • The emotional or behavioural outcome that follows.

    • Irrational beliefs may lead to negative emotions, e.g. sadness, anger, withdrawal

    • Rational beliefs may lead to balanced emotions and coping responses

• Ellis suggested that irrational thinking leads to a self-defeating cycle

  • Individuals feel worse, withdraw socially, and interpret further events negatively, reinforcing depression

• He developed Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) to help people challenge and replace irrational beliefs with rational ones

Criticisms of the ABC model

• Assumes irrationality

  • The model assumes depression is caused by irrational thinking, but sometimes people’s evaluations of events are realistic

    • E.g., losing a job may be genuinely distressing, especially if unemployment in the area makes finding work difficult

• Reductionist

  • The model focuses too narrowly on faulty cognition and ignores biological or environmental factors such as genetics, neurotransmitter levels, or stressful life events

  • These affect how we perceive situations and events

• Cause and effect issue

  • It’s unclear whether irrational beliefs cause depression or if depression leads to irrational thinking

  • Most evidence is correlational

• Overemphasis on free will

  • Ellis’s model suggests that individuals are personally responsible for their depression

  • This could make people feel guilty or to blame if therapy doesn’t work

  • Biological explanations argue that brain dysfunction and neurotransmitter imbalances may limit how much control a person truly has