Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression

Aaron Beck (1967) proposed one of the most influential cognitive theories of depression. He argued that depression is caused by negative thinking patterns — specifically, dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive biases that lead a person to interpret the world in consistently negative ways.

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The Cognitive Triad

Beck's central concept is the cognitive triad — three interconnected patterns of negative thinking that characterise depression:

1. Negative View of the Self

The person sees themselves as inadequate, worthless, or defective.

• "I am a failure"
• "Nobody could love me"
• "I am useless"

2. Negative View of the World

The person sees the world as a hostile, unfair, or overwhelming place.

• "The world is against me"
• "Nothing good ever happens"
• "Life is full of suffering"

3. Negative View of the Future

The person sees the future as hopeless — they expect things to continue going badly or get worse.

• "Things will never improve"
• "I'll always feel this way"
• "There's no point in trying"