Ratan repeatedly thinks, “I will never succeed”, even after performing well in exams. Beck classified this thought as problematic probably because it:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → reflects cognitive distortions arising from dysfunctional schemas.
Option (1) is influenced by biological instincts. — Incorrect. Instincts and inborn drives belong to the psychodynamic view. Beck’s theory places the cause of distress in thinking, not in biology.
Option (2) reflects cognitive distortions arising from dysfunctional schemas. — Correct. For Beck, childhood experiences build core schemas; a critical incident later triggers them and produces negative automatic thoughts such as ‘I will not succeed’. These thoughts carry cognitive distortions: general ways of thinking that distort reality in a negative manner. Ratan does well in his exams and still thinks he will never succeed, so his thought goes against the facts, the mark of a distortion.
Option (3) is consciously chosen by the individual. — Incorrect. Beck calls such thoughts automatic: they come up by themselves and persist, which is why the therapist has to question them gently before the client can see them for what they are.
Option (4) results from unresolved childhood fears. — Incorrect. Unresolved childhood conflicts are the psychoanalytic explanation. Childhood matters in Beck’s theory only because it builds the schemas; the problem he treats is the distorted thought itself, which therapy restructures.
NCERT (2025-26): “Cognitive Therapy … Another cognitive therapy is that of Aaron Beck. His theory of psychological distress characterised by anxiety or depression, states that childhood experiences provided by the family and society develop core schemas or systems, which include beliefs and action patterns in the individual. Thus, a client, who was neglected by the parents as a child, develops the core schema of ‘I am not wanted’. During the course of life, a critical incident occurs in her/his life. S/ he is publicly ridiculed by the teacher in school. This critical incident triggers the core schema of ‘I am not wanted’ leading to the development of negative automatic thoughts. Negative thoughts are persistent irrational thoughts such as ‘nobody loves me’, ‘I am ugly’, ‘I am stupid’, ‘I will not succeed’, etc. Such negative automatic thoughts are characterised by cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are ways of thinking which are general in nature but which distort the reality in a negative manner. These patterns of thought are called dysfunctional cognitive structures. They lead to errors of cognition about the social reality. Repeated occurrence of these thoughts leads to the development of feelings of anxiety and depression. The therapist uses questioning, which is gentle, non-threatening disputation of the client’s beliefs and thoughts. Examples of such question would be, ‘Why should everyone love you?’, ‘What does it mean to you to succeed?’, etc. The questions make the client think in a direction opposite to that of the negative automatic thoughts whereby s/ he gains insight into the nature of her/ his dysfunctional schemas, and is able to alter her/his cognitive structures. The aim of the therapy is to achieve this cognitive restructuring which, in turn, reduces anxiety and depression.…” |