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Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Therapy01:25

Cognitive Therapy

556
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
556
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

576
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy01:24

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

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Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...
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Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

197
Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
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Beck's Cognitive Therapy01:25

Beck's Cognitive Therapy

145
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
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The Influence of Cognition on Affect01:29

The Influence of Cognition on Affect

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Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 27, 2025

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
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Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression From an Evolutionary Perspective.

Steven D Hollon1, Paul W Andrews2, J Anderson Thomson3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|July 22, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Most non-psychotic mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, may be evolved adaptations, not diseases. Interventions facilitating their evolved functions, such as rumination, may be more effective than medication.

Keywords:
antidepressant medicationscognitive behavior therapydepressionevolutionrumination

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Behavioral science

Background:

  • Traditional medicine struggles to differentiate between disease states and adaptive responses.
  • Fever and diarrhea are examples of evolved survival mechanisms against pathogens.
  • Severe mental disorders may be diseases, but non-psychotic disorders like depression and anxiety might be adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary perspective on non-psychotic mental health conditions.
  • To differentiate between diseases and evolved adaptations in mental health.
  • To understand depression as an evolved adaptation for problem-solving.

Main Methods:

  • Adaptationist evolutionary perspective.
  • Analysis of proximal mechanisms underlying non-psychotic disorders.
  • Examination of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) processes.

Main Results:

  • Non-psychotic disorders are likely species-typical, coordinated whole-body responses, not diseases.
  • Depression may have evolved to facilitate rumination for complex problem-solving.
  • Interventions supporting evolved functions (e.g., rumination) may be preferable to symptom-masking treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Depression and anxiety may be evolved adaptations serving crucial functions.
  • Cognitive behavior therapy may facilitate these evolved functions.
  • An evolutionary approach offers a new framework for understanding and treating mental health conditions.