Question 115 marks
Question
The ABC model of psychological change: • Activating event • Beliefs about the event • Consequences: emotional and behavioural responses. Ellis (1962) used this model in rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). The aim of REBT is to treat depression by changing a client’s thinking. (a) Explain why a depressed client’s thinking needs to be changed in order to treat their depression. [2] (b) (i) Outline one irrational belief that clients might have before starting REBT. [2] (ii) Outline how irrational beliefs are changed by REBT. [2] (c) Suggest one psychological treatment for depression, other than REBT. [4] (d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of psychological treatments for depression. You should include a conclusion in your answer. [5] Psychology and consumer behaviour
Mark scheme
1 The ABC model of psychological change: • Activating event • Beliefs about the event • Consequences: emotional and behavioural responses. Ellis (1962) used this model in rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). The aim of REBT is to treat depression by changing a client’s thinking. 1(a) Explain why a depressed client’s thinking needs to be changed in order 2 to treat their depression. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): • Identifying irrational thoughts, feelings and beliefs caused by situations that lead to distress and changing these mistaken beliefs into helping people respond rationally to situations. Marks: 1 mark basic answer, 2 marks detail/elaboration. 1(b)(i) Outline one irrational belief that clients might have before starting 2 REBT. Most likely answers (other appropriate responses to be credited): • awfulising (If I don't succeed it will be awful) • I-can't-stand-it-itis/Low frustration tolerance (I can’t stand it if…) • self-downing (I am a failure) • musterbating (I must be thoroughly competent) Marks: 1 mark statement of belief (such as awfulizing), 1 mark for statement such as ‘I am a failure’ OR +1 mark for ‘person thinking they are worthless, useless’, etc Note: 1 mark max for appropriate anecdotal answers not listed above. 1(b)(ii) Outline how irrational beliefs are changed by REBT. 2 Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): • D: the dispute or challenge phase. in order to act and feel differently, we must dispute or challenge the irrational beliefs experienced. • E: the new, more effective emotions and behaviours that result from more reasonable thinking about the original event. • Acceptance: If emotionally healthy, a person accepts reality, whether that reality is pleasant or unpleasant. Three forms: unconditional self- acceptance; unconditional other acceptance and unconditional life acceptance. Note: Description of explanation scores no marks [ABC (A: an activating event, B: the belief held about A, C: the consequences – thoughts, feelings or behaviours – resulting from A] but ‘if these are targeted by’ 1 mark max. Marks: 1 mark for ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘A’, 2 marks detail/elaboration. Note: 1 mark max for appropriate answers summarising the process. 1(c) Suggest one psychological treatment for depression, other than REBT. 4 Most likely answer • Beck et al. (1979) cognitive restructuring is a stage process: Identify negative automatic thoughts, challenge the NATs and replace with positive thoughts. (i) explanation of therapy, (ii) identification of unpleasant emotions, (iii) the situations in which these occur and (iv) associated negative automatic thoughts. (v) challenge the negative thoughts and (vi) replace them with positive thoughts. (vii) challenge the underlying dysfunctional beliefs and (viii) therapy ends. Note: Description of explanation scores 0 marks [negative cognitive triad, comprising unrealistically negative views about the self, the world and the future] but ‘if these are targeted by’ 1 mark max. Note: 0 marks for any biochemical treatment. Note: CBT scores 0 mark max unless it is fully justified. Marks: 1 mark for basic outline, 2 marks detail/elaboration. 1(d) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of psychological treatments for 5 depression. You should include a conclusion in your answer. Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion. 1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however basic/detailed) which is related to the question (max 4 marks). 1 mark for conclusion. 2 marks max for two strengths and two weaknesses unrelated to the question. Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a ‘decision reached by reasoning’ and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks. Note: 0 marks for any biochemical treatment. Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited): Strengths: • Techniques can be applied by anyone, in any place at any time. • cognitive techniques focus on ‘reorganising thoughts’ rather than removing the cause • cognitive techniques are more likely to be generalised because all people can apply the same principles of removing irrational thoughts • No medication is taken; the patient cannot become addicted to medication. • The therapist will guide the patient through the treatment. Weaknesses: • Cognitive techniques take time and effort from the person (unlike swallowing a pill) • The techniques do not cure anything, merely make it easier to live with • Cognitive techniques ignore the role of biochemical (biological determinism) • A therapist is needed which is more costly than taking a drug.