Foundations and Theoretical Concepts Flashcards

'Third-wave' CBT approaches, such as ACT and DBT, are distinguished from classical CBT primarily by their emphasis on:

Answer: Acceptance of internal experiences rather than direct cognitive restructuring

Third-wave approaches shift the goal from changing thought content to changing one's relationship to thoughts through acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action.

The term 'cognitive vulnerability' in CBT refers to:

Answer: Pre-existing cognitive patterns that increase susceptibility to psychological disorders

Cognitive vulnerability describes stable, pre-existing schemas or thinking styles that predispose individuals to developing or relapsing into mental health conditions under stress.

B.F. Skinner's radical behaviorism differed from Watson's behaviorism primarily in its focus on:

Answer: Operant behavior shaped by its consequences

Skinner emphasized that voluntary behavior is selected and maintained by its reinforcing or punishing consequences, not merely by antecedent stimuli.

In CBT, 'case conceptualization' serves which primary function?

Answer: Providing a personalized map linking predisposing, precipitating, and maintaining factors

Case conceptualization creates an individualized formulation that guides treatment by explaining how the client's history, beliefs, and behaviors interact to produce and maintain problems.

Which term describes the CBT technique of systematically listing evidence for and against a negative automatic thought?

Answer: Thought record / evidence examination

Evidence examination (often using a thought record) involves systematically gathering and weighing evidence supporting and contradicting a negative thought to generate a balanced alternative.

The concept of 'learned helplessness,' developed by Martin Seligman, is most relevant to CBT's model of:

Answer: Depression

Learned helplessness — the belief that one's actions have no effect on outcomes — is a key cognitive-behavioral model for understanding passivity and hopelessness in depression.

In CBT theory, 'compensatory strategies' are behaviors or cognitions that clients develop in order to:

Answer: Cope with or protect against the pain of core beliefs being activated

Compensatory strategies (e.g., perfectionism, control, avoidance) are developed to manage the distress when core beliefs are triggered, but typically maintain the disorder.