Theories of Depression
“Theories of Depression”
- Depression is a psychological disorder affecting mood, thought, physical health, and behaviour. Various theories attempt to explain its causes and effects.
Cognitive Theory
- Proposed by Aaron Beck, this suggests that negative thoughts or cognitions can lead to depression.
- There are three key components in Beck’s cognitive theory: negative self-schema, cognitive biases, and the negative triad (negative thoughts about the self, world and future).
Behavioural Theory
- According to this theory, depression is a learned behaviour. It suggests that people may learn to be helpless and eventually become depressed when they don’t have control over their environment.
- This is known as the “learned helplessness” theory, a concept developed by Martin Seligman.
Psychoanalytic Theory
- Developed by Sigmund Freud, it suggests that unresolved conflicts from childhood lead to depression in later life.
- Freud argued that these internal conflicts are fought in the unconscious mind, causing anxiety and potentially leading to depression.
Biological Theory
- This theory suggests that depression has a genetic basis or may be a result of chemical imbalances in the brain.
- This can involve neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine which are believed to regulate mood.
Sociocultural Theory
- This theory suggests that depression can be influenced by one’s social and cultural environment.
- Factors such as poverty, social isolation or stressful life events can contribute to the onset of depression.
Interpersonal Theory
- This theory argues that difficulties in interpersonal relationships such as family disputes or loss of loved ones could lead to depression.
- Essentially, our interactions with others could impact our emotional health.
In-depth Understanding
- Understand that these theories are not mutually exclusive. Many professionals agree that depression may be a result of a mixture of these factors.
- It is also essential to note that depression is complex and different individuals may be more susceptible to certain causes than others.