Identify the correct sequence in Aaron Beck’s therapy.(A) The child d…

Identify the correct sequence in Aaron Beck’s therapy.

(A) The child develops a core schema, ‘I am ugly’ due to his experiences at home

(B) The negative thoughts are known as cognitive distortions

(D) These cognitive distortions distort the reality in a negative manner leading to dysfunctional cognitive structures

(E) Later he gets a terrible remark in neighbourhood that he is not good looking leading to negative thoughts about himself

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → (C), (A), (E), (B), (D)

(C) This theory states that childhood experiences provided by the family develops core schemas in the child — Beck’s theory begins with childhood: experiences provided by the family and society develop core schemas, the beliefs and action patterns of the individual.

(A) The child develops a core schema, ‘I am ugly’ due to his experiences at home — this is the core schema itself, formed in childhood, like the neglected child’s schema ‘I am not wanted’.

(E) Later he gets a terrible remark in neighbourhood that he is not good looking leading to negative thoughts about himself — during the course of life a critical incident occurs; it triggers the core schema and leads to negative automatic thoughts.

(B) The negative thoughts are known as cognitive distortions — such negative automatic thoughts are characterised by cognitive distortions.

(D) These cognitive distortions distort the reality in a negative manner leading to dysfunctional cognitive structures — cognitive distortions distort the reality in a negative manner, and these patterns of thought are called dysfunctional cognitive structures.

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.…”