According to Aaron Beck, which element is central to the development of unipolar depression?

According to Aaron Beck, which element is central to the development of unipolar depression?

• A. Reduced social rewards
• B. Negative thoughts
• C. Underlying conflicts
• D. Losses in childhood

Answer: (B)

Negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future drive the development of unipolar depression in Beck’s cognitive model. When stress occurs, automatic negative cognitions arise and are biased by distortions—like all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and catastrophizing—so information is processed through a pessimistic lens. This biased thinking lowers mood and motivation, reduces activity, and reinforces the negative beliefs, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. Therapy focuses on identifying, challenging, and restructuring these thoughts, which is why the cognitive approach centers on negative thoughts as the key driver. Other options reflect different theories—reduced social rewards aligns with reinforcement, underlying conflicts with psychodynamic ideas, and childhood losses with early-life experiences—none capture Beck’s emphasis on negative cognitions as the core mechanism.

Negative thoughts about the self, the world, and the future drive the development of unipolar depression in Beck’s cognitive model. When stress occurs, automatic negative cognitions arise and are biased by distortions—like all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and catastrophizing—so information is processed through a pessimistic lens. This biased thinking lowers mood and motivation, reduces activity, and reinforces the negative beliefs, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. Therapy focuses on identifying, challenging, and restructuring these thoughts, which is why the cognitive approach centers on negative thoughts as the key driver. Other options reflect different theories—reduced social rewards aligns with reinforcement, underlying conflicts with psychodynamic ideas, and childhood losses with early-life experiences—none capture Beck’s emphasis on negative cognitions as the core mechanism.