Beck's cognitive triad, also known as the negative triad,[1][2] is a cognitive-therapeutic view of the three key elements of a person's belief system present in depression. It was proposed by Aaron Beck in 1967.[3] The triad forms part of his cognitive theory of depression[4] and the concept is used as part of CBT, particularly in Beck's "Treatment of Negative Automatic Thoughts" (TNAT) approach.
The triad involves "automatic, spontaneous and seemingly uncontrollable negative thoughts"[5] about:
- The self
- The world or environment
- The future
Examples of this negative thinking include:
- The self – "I'm worthless and ugly" or "I wish I was different"
- The world – "No one values me" or "people ignore me all the time"
- The future – "I'm hopeless because things will never change" or "things can only get worse!"
- ^ Gross, Richard (2015). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour 7th Edition. Hodder Education. pp. 796, 797. ISBN 978-1-4718-2973-4.
- ^ Cardwell, Flanagan, Mike, Cara (2015). Psychology A Level Year 1 and AS: The Complete Companion Student Book. OUP. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-19-833864-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Beck, Aaron, T.; Rush, A. John; Shaw, Brian F.; Emery, Gary (1987). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. Guilford Press. ISBN 978-0-89862-919-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Overview of Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression". www.personalityresearch.org. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
- ^ "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | CBT | Simply Psychology". www.simplypsychology.org. Retrieved 2016-10-04.