Abstract This paper examines two modern day theorists that have had a major impact on psychology--Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Ellis is known as the founder of rational-emotive therapy and Beck is known as the founder of cognitive therapy. The paper evaluates how both Ellis and Beck are inspirational for their approaches to therapy, for the therapies they pioneered and for the impact these therapies have had. It considers both the approaches and the therapies of Ellis and Beck in turn.
From the Paper "Ellis's theory is based on the belief that psychological problems are caused by irrational beliefs that people have gained by some experience in the past. These irrational beliefs cause people to overreact to situations. In one work describing how the theory is applied, Ellis offers the example of a woman who is rejected by her partner. According to Ellis, if the woman has emotional difficulties she responds to this rejection in an excessive way. Instead of thinking that it is undesirable to be rejected she believes she is a worthless person because she is rejected and believes that she will never be accepted by anyone (Ellis, 1979). To deal with these emotional problems, Ellis proposed rational-emotive therapy. This therapy is based on the idea that the therapist's role is to teach the individual to think logically. Unlike many therapists, Ellis did not believe that the patient should guide their own thinking."
Abstract This paper explains that Earl R. Beck in his book "Under the Bombs: The German Home Front, 1942-1945" claims to be only telling the story of the bombing of German cities by the Allies in WWII without any analysis of the circumstance surrounding this action. The author states that Beck provides examples that much of the bombing was not done over harbors, bridges, factories or rail lines but in the center of the cities, where the most destruction was of private homes and the families that lived in them; Beck shows no consideration for the horrific actions of the Nazi's. The paper concludes that the book was poorly written and the ideas presented problematical; the author feels that Beck has a warped idea of justice and fairness, in peace as well as in war: To paraphrase George Santayana, those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.
From the Paper "The reverses in the East made the Nazis more bloodthirsty. This included their own people, who were tried for everything from petty thievery to treason. The idea was to find everyone guilty. It seems there were still eleven guillotines operating in Germany, and the motto for those handling the trials was "liquidate and expropriate" The Nazis' fury at defeat outside their native land had now turned inward, and was aimed at those "defeatists" who did not want to see all the young German men slaughtered. (They obviously feared Russia much more than France or Britain.)"
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses Aaron Temkin Beck, who was born in 1921 and is a psychiatrist and professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. The writer points out that Dr. Beck is also known as the father of cognitive positive therapy and widely recognized for his significant contributions towards mental health care. This paper examines Dr. Beck's contribution to medicine and science by reflecting on how cognitive behavior therapy developed, and by exploring several key theories that have significantly influenced positive medical outcomes in mental health fields. The writer maintains that cognitive behavioral therapy has gained an important position in healthcare treatments because of its successful outcomes in a wide variety of disorders. The writer concludes that as such, Dr. Aaron Beck has gained a significant place in contemporary medical fields, thus earning him a place in the history of humanity's fight against disease and medical disorders.
Outline:
Introduction
The Development of Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Conclusion
From the Paper "The core insight of CBT, therefore, is the idea of thoughts mediating between stimuli or information that is external, such as people, events, and situations, and inner emotions. As such, thoughts are seen as the motor driving outer behavior. For example, a stimulus provokes a thought that elicits an evaluative judgment, which, in turn, rouses an emotional response. In other words, it is not the stimulus that provokes an emotional response but the thought or evaluation that preceded it - an idea that has been further explored in rational emotive behavior therapy."
Abstract This paper relates that the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) measures three major aspects of hopelessness; feelings about the future, loss of motivation and expectations. The paper examines the evidence of the reliability of the BHS, the way the test is administered and the many ways that the utility of the test can be affected. The paper reveals that because of the reliability of the test, it continues to be used by psychiatric professionals in evaluating and measuring abstract hopelessness in patients that are suspected to exhibit suicidal ideations.
Outline:
Psychometric Characteristics
Practical Considerations
Discussion of Test Utility
From the Paper The psychometric characteristics of the test has been based on various sample groups of psychiatrically diagnosed and normal persons. These studies were conducted under the supervision of skilled and licensed psychiatric professionals. Much of the data of the test is based on samples that were "not diagnosed" according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (Beck, 1988) Though this is the case, professionals still feel this test is accurate enough as it is still widely used.
"The Beck hopelessness Scale (BHS) was developed by Aaron T. Beck and his associates to measure three major aspects of hopelessness; feelings about the future, loss of motivation and expectations. This test was originally developed to measure negative attitudes about the future in patients who were considered to be at risk for committing suicide: however, it is sometimes used in normal adolescence and adults. (Wikipedia, 2007) Evaluations of the BHS were conducted using the item-response theory. In two separate samples, the end result was identical."
Abstract This paper reviews the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and subsequent revisions from several perspectives, including its history and development, content, administration and scoring. The paper also provides the relevant statistical information, comparisons with other similar tools, its applications and ethical considerations in its use.
Outline:
History and Development
Depression
Test Content Description
Test Administration and Scoring
Statistical Measures of Validity
Population Targets
Ethical Considerations
Summary
From the Paper "The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was introduced by Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock & Erbaugh in 1961 and is aimed at registering varying degrees of depression along a continuum; ie, depth of depression. The test measures one state, that being depression, it is not however, designed to distinguish among standard diagnostic categories (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock & Erbaugh, 1961.)
"In the method section for the BDI, Beck describes that the items in the inventory were primarily clinically derived. In the course of the psychoanalytic therapy of depressed patients, Beck made systematic observations and records of the characteristic attitudes and symptoms of depressed patients. He selected a group of these attitudes and symptoms that appeared to be specific for these depressed patients and which were consistent with the descriptions of depression contained in the psychiatric literature. On the basis of this procedure, he constructed an inventory composed of 21 categories of symptoms and attitudes."
Abstract This paper discusses how Martha Beck's "Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith" is an extremely compelling, non-fictional story of a woman's spiritual journey through life. It looks at how, through the book, Martha Beck reveals some of her most horrifying life experiences, deeply guarded secrets, and the unbelievable hardships she endured while being trapped in the "life-world" religion known as Mormonism. The paper examines how Beck conveys the deep seriousness of her experiences while also adding a dash of humor as well as how Beck walks her readers through her incredible journey, which led her to overcome Mormonism, but also betray her family and faith.
From the Paper "Martha Beck focuses her story around a conversation that she is having with her father, years after she has left the Mormon Faith. During the book she flashes back and forth to and from the conversation, while telling the story of her past at the same. One of the first events that she reflects on is her wedding day. In the Mormon faith, there is a very sacred process that young women and men are required to undergo preceding their wedding ceremony. The process takes place in the Mormon temple, and Martha chooses not to go into great detail about what she experienced in the temple because she was required to take a death vow, which involved a vivid representation of what would happen to her if she spoke of what takes place in the temple. "
Abstract The paper shows that the main theme behind Charlotte Joko Beck's book "Everyday Zen" is that life is simple: Life just as it is at any moment, is all that it can be and therefore is perfect. Beck recognizes the fact that life is precious and we have it for the moment. The paper shows that by pointing again and again to the troubles we cause ourselves by living life not in the moment, but out of a confused fog of fantasies and "what ifs," Beck challenges us to cleanse ourselves of our mental barriers that prevent us from enjoying life as we know it. She does not state that life will be perfect but rather that it will just be what it is.
From the Paper "We have all spent many years building up a conditioned view of life", according to Beck and "there is me and there is this thing out there that is either hurting me or pleasing me". Unfortunately we try to avoid the parts of life that don't please us but that doesn't work either. Fretting about what might happen, what will it mean, how will things change are all visions we create in our heads. We miss the moment because we are already trying to live the next. We worry we might miss something when we our creating the circumstances and we are missing something?life at the moment."
Abstract This paper explains that, because the Freudian model did not fit all patients into in the manifestation phase or, in many cases, the circumstances surrounding their resolution; psychoanalysts Joseph Weiss and Aaron Beck devised alternative therapy theories. The author points out that Weiss' Control Theory combines the origins of psychological pathology with issues of just "how" the patient interacts within therapy to form a more useful and therapeutically successful model. The paper relates that Aaron Beck, in his work treating patients suffering from depression, devised another theory, known as "Cognitive Behavioral Theory", in which the patient's internal thoughts, belief system, attitudes and perceptions influence both the emotional characteristics of the patient and the strength under which the depressed patient struggles.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Control Theory
Role of the Therapist
Cognitive Therapy: Beck Role of the Therapist
Comparisons
Conclusion
From the Paper "If, as Weiss asserts, the patient is imbibed with a subconscious drive to master his or her psychopathology, then the role of the therapist in working with the patient is to uncover his or her patient's specific and individual internal "plan" to resolve their issues. In so doing, the therapist becomes a kind of facilitator, allowing the patient's internal drive toward health to resolve the problem. In order for the therapist to be an effective facilitator, however, he or she must clearly understand the issues of "control and mastery" involved."
Abstract This paper examines how anxiety disorders and phobias are some of the most common emotional disorders that people can have and how their commonality, however, does not make them any more pleasant or easy to deal with for those who are suffering from them. It looks at how anxiety disorders can take many different forms, which further complicates the matter, and how there are about as many phobias as there are things to have phobias about. It discusses how A.T. Beck has written an interesting and informative book on anxiety and phobias, taking the cognitive approach to their treatment. This paper examines Beck's book and the issue of anxiety disorders and phobias in general.
From the Paper "As can be seen, general anxiety disorder is not a pleasant thing. It leaves the sufferer unable to stop worrying for a significant amount of time. Worse, those worries and the physical symptoms associated with them begin to interfere in the person's daily life. Often tranquilizers or other psychotropic drugs are needed to combat this disorder and to bring the person back into a normal frame of mind. Cognitive therapy is very helpful in this area, as well. The cognitive therapist will ask the person a series of probing, Socratic questions, trying to determine the underlying cause of the worrying and the symptoms associated with it. This method of treatment is often very effective, and drugs, if they are needed, can usually be discontinued after successful treatment by a cognitive therapist."
Abstract The author states that cognitive therapy relates to how a person thinks and attempts to resolve the patients? problems by changing how they think. The author believes that the strengths of cognitive therapy is that it is a comforting process and an action-oriented approach focused in the present. The author continues that the weakness is it may not work in extreme cases.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Applications of Cognitive Therapy
Listening to Internal Dialogue
Dream Therapy
Conditions Treated by Cognitive Therapy
Depression
Suicide Prevention
Strengths and Weaknesses
Ellis's Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET)
Strengths and Weaknesses
From the Paper "Beck believed that problems resulted from cognitive distortions, that is, were based in a person's thinking. Beck believed that a person's thought, beliefs, attitudes and perceptions were the basis for what emotions they would experience and how intense those emotions would be and that by changing the thinking a person could change their experience."
Abstract As we prepare to enter the 21st century, it is probably wisest to view matters of environmentalism and environmental problems in terms of the culture or cultures that have given rise to degradation and to ways of living that continue to harm the environment, yet which are mainstream practices that are rather taken for granted by many. However, this paper is rooted in the theme of societies, individuals and their attitudes as only slowly changing. As the examples referred to will suggest, there is much reason to question Ulrich Beck's position on environmental Risk as something that will be averted by social dynamics as much as policy decisions.
Abstract This paper discusses Alice Beck Kehoe's book, "The Ghost Dance: Ethno-history and Revitalization", claiming that although it covers a relatively small slice of a much greater historical period, it has indeed become an enduring work. The paper presents this work as a short read focusing upon only one Native-American nation and in an overall scheme of the broader anthropological study that comes under the heading of "Ghost Dancing of the Grand Canyon". Moreover, the paper explains that the work does indeed have some detractors among which are the eastern Native-American nations.
Outline
Book Report Thesis Statement
Ethnography
The Case Study Approach
Revitalization
The Main Detractor
From the Paper "The anthropological science of ethnography is a widely accepted methodology for the study of a particular cultural. It entails a lengthy study of a particular culture such as Ms Kehoe is accomplishing in her work using the tools of detailing "oral histories," "written histories," "face to face interviews," and "media resources." Using these factors and others, such as "studies of specific geographical locations and their influences," "photography," along with many other factors to arrive at as an accurate characterization of an Ethnic History of a given group as possible. The Ethnography Ms Kehoe uses are the locations along the Colorado River System that is the home of the Native American Paiute (sic) Nation. The story, seen through the eyes of Mr. James Mooney of the Smithsonian Institution begins with an explanation of the "Ghost Dance Religion," as explained to him beginning of New Years Day of 1892. Furthermore, this context along with the many "Illustrations," and "References," in use by Ms Kehoe carries the study forward through massacres at Wounded Knee of 1896 and 1973."
Abstract This paper reviews and discusses Judith Beck's 1995 book, "Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond." The paper first provides a summary of each chapter. Then the paper conducts an overall analysis of the book as it relates to the fields of psychology, academic advising and the role of the professional therapist.
Abstract Alice Beck Kehoe's The Ghost Dance: Ethnohistory and Revitalization is a complex ethnohistorical work with a dual purpose. This paper argues that this duality is central to the main argument of the author and situates the work within the broader crisis of representation and relevance that defines the field of cultural anthropology in the early 21st century.
From the Paper "Alice Beck Kehoe's The Ghost Dance: Ethnohistory and Revitalization is a complex ethnohistorical work with a dual purpose. As this essay will argue, this duality is central to the main argument of the author and situates the work within the broader crisis of representation and relevance that defines the field of cultural anthropology in the early 21st century. As will be seen, while in the first half of her text Kehoe focuses on an analysis of the Ghost Dance phenomenon in terms of how American Indian societies have coped with radical social, economic and political change."
Abstract The paper analyzes a study "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Due to Childbirth- The Aftermath" by Cheryl Tatano Beck that investigates post-traumatic stress disorder in relation to childbirth. The paper looks at the design, purpose, variables, hypotheses, sample and setting and the study instruments used.
Outline:
Problem
Study Purpose
Research Question
Hypotheses
Study Variables
Conceptual Model/Theoretical Framework
Review of Related Literature
Study Design
Sample and Setting
Identification and Control of Extraneous Variables
Study Instruments/Tools
From the Paper "Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It commonly occurs in individuals who had extremely traumatic experiences. The disorder is most commonly reported among war veterans.
"Problematic childbirth can also be a traumatic experience for mothers that can lead to PTSD. It is estimated that worldwide, there is a 1.5 to 6% prevalence of childbirth-induced PTSD. Manifestations of PTSD have been reported as recurring nightmares, depression, interpersonal relationship problems, suicidal tendencies, and sexual avoidance."
