CBT CBT Theory & Core Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which philosopher's Stoic principle — 'People are disturbed not by events, but by their opinions about events' — is frequently cited as a precursor to CBT?
- Aristotle
- Epictetus (Correct answer)
- Plato
- Socrates
Correct answer: Epictetus
Epictetus's Stoic teaching that beliefs, not events, cause emotional disturbance is a foundational philosophical precursor to CBT.
Question 2: In the cognitive model, what term describes the level of cognition that includes core beliefs and assumptions?
- Automatic thoughts
- Metacognitions
- Schemas (Correct answer)
- Intrusive cognitions
Correct answer: Schemas
Schemas are deep-seated cognitive structures containing core beliefs and assumptions that filter how individuals interpret experiences.
Question 3: Aaron Beck originally developed cognitive therapy while treating patients with which condition?
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Panic disorder
Correct answer: Depression
Beck developed cognitive therapy in the 1960s while researching and treating depression, identifying characteristic negative thought patterns.
Question 4: The 'cognitive triad' in Beck's model of depression refers to negative views about:
- Self, world, and future (Correct answer)
- Past, present, and future
- Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Family, work, and health
Correct answer: Self, world, and future
Beck's cognitive triad describes the depressed person's negative schema across three domains: self, world (environment), and future.
Question 5: Which CBT principle holds that homework assignments between sessions are essential because:
- They reduce the need for in-session work
- They allow generalization of skills to real-world contexts (Correct answer)
- They provide legal documentation of treatment
- They replace therapist guidance with self-help
Correct answer: They allow generalization of skills to real-world contexts
Between-session homework helps clients practice and generalize skills learned in therapy to their everyday environments.
Question 6: In CBT, a 'downward arrow technique' is used primarily to:
- Teach progressive muscle relaxation
- Uncover underlying core beliefs from surface automatic thoughts (Correct answer)
- Challenge safety behaviors in exposure
- Identify behavioral activation targets
Correct answer: Uncover underlying core beliefs from surface automatic thoughts
The downward arrow technique repeatedly asks 'What would that mean?' to trace automatic thoughts down to deeper core beliefs.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'collaborative empiricism' in CBT?
- The therapist uses evidence from research to direct treatment
- Therapist and client jointly test beliefs as hypotheses through evidence-gathering (Correct answer)
- The client collects data independently and reports findings to the therapist
- Both parties agree to use only empirically supported techniques
Correct answer: Therapist and client jointly test beliefs as hypotheses through evidence-gathering
Collaborative empiricism means the therapist and client work together as a team to examine the evidence for and against the client's beliefs.
CBT CBT Theory & Core Principles 2
Which philosopher's Stoic principle — 'People are disturbed not by events, but by their opinions about events' — is frequently cited as a precursor to CBT?