The Cognitive Approach to Psychopathology

OUTLINE OF APPROACH

• Abnormality is caused by Faulty Thinking
• Thinking, expectations and attitudes direct behaviour. 
• Mental illness is the result of innapropriate thinking. 
• The focus is on the way a person thinks about the problem rather than the problem itself. 
• Faulty and irrational thinking prevents the individial behaving adaptively.... Ellis A-B-C model:
• A is ACTIVATING EVENT 
• B is the BELIEF which is rational or irrational 
• C is the CONSEQUENCE - rational beliefs lead to healthy emotions... irrational leads to unhealthy emotions.
• The Individual is in Control
• The individual is the cause of their own behaviour, as they are the one controlling their own thoughts.

METHODS OF INVESTIGATING THE COGNITIVE…