march 27 notes - Psych 201 Notes Cognitive Behavioral...

Psych 201- Notes
3/27/08
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: An Approach to Limiting Negative Emotions (and
Increasing Positive Ones)
- How we react to events affects our emotions
o Thoughts  > Feelings  > Behavior  > Physical Response (all affect
each other)
- Cognitive Behavioral Theory
o Approach dating back to 1950s (Albert Ellis, Aarvin Beck)
o A distinct break from older psychoanalytic approaches that assumed that
psychological problems are based neuroses rooted in childhood
o Simple Idea: Emotions are rooted primarily in thoughts
 Thoughts and behavior are primary in determining emotions
 By changing (maladaptive) thoughts and behavior, you can change
emotions
o Example: A person comes to a therapist and says he is depressed because
no one likes him and he has no friends
 Cognitive Intervention: Reality testing. Does everyone hate you?
Some people who are friendly to you? (Goal: determine reality of
the situation (often times distorted))
 Behavioral Intervention: Smile (even if sort of faking it) and be