Question

In the context of Beck's Cognitive Behavior Therapy, arrange the following circumstances in sequence that lead towards psychological disorder.
A. Negative affect
B. Illogical ideas
C. Depression
D. Negative thoughts, memories, ideas
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B, C, D
• B. A, C, B, D
• C. B, A, D, C
• D. C, B, D, A

Hint:

Remember the core principle of CBT: Thoughts cause Feelings. An event triggers a thought, which in turn triggers an emotion. The starting point in Beck's model is often a deep-seated dysfunctional belief or "illogical idea."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the causal sequence of developing a psychological disorder, like depression, according to Aaron Beck's cognitive model. Beck's model posits that our thoughts and underlying beliefs are central to our emotional state.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The standard cognitive model of depression follows this sequence:

Illogical ideas (B): The process begins with underlying dysfunctional schemas or core beliefs. These are deeply held, rigid, and illogical assumptions about oneself, the world, or the future (e.g., "I must be loved by everyone to be happy").
Negative thoughts, memories, ideas (D): These underlying beliefs are activated by a life event, leading to specific, automatic negative thoughts. This is often referred to as the "cognitive triad": negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future.
Negative affect (A): These negative thoughts directly lead to negative emotions or feelings, such as sadness, anxiety, guilt, or hopelessness.
Depression (C): The persistent and overwhelming cycle of negative thoughts and feelings, along with behavioral symptoms (like withdrawal or inactivity), constitutes the clinical syndrome of depression.
The most accurate sequence is B \(\rightarrow\) D \(\rightarrow\) A \(\rightarrow\) C. However, this exact sequence is not available in the options, suggesting a potential error in the question.
Step 3: Evaluating the Given Options:
We must choose the best-fitting option.
Options 1 and 2 start with Negative Affect (A), which is incorrect as affect is a consequence of thoughts in this model.
Option 4 starts with Depression (C), which is the final outcome.
Option 3, B, A, D, C, correctly identifies Illogical Ideas (B) as the starting point and Depression (C) as the endpoint. While it incorrectly places Negative Affect (A) before Negative Thoughts (D), it is the only option that correctly frames the beginning and end of the process as per Beck's theory. Therefore, it is the most plausible intended answer despite the flawed internal sequence.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Given the choices, option (C) is the best answer as it correctly identifies the initial cause and the final outcome according to Beck's cognitive model.