ASSIGNMENT
BS 5th Semester – Department of Applied Psychology
Submitted by:
Name: Maryam Naheed
Roll No: 269
Subject: Schools and Perspectives in Psychology
Topic: Cognitive Perspective\ Aron beck
Department: Applied Psychology
Submitted to:
Teacher's Name: Miss Aisha Siddiquea
Government Graduate College for Women, Kasur
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Aron Beck and His Contribution to the Cognitive Perspective
1. Introduction
Aron T. Beck was one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. He is known
as the Father of Cognitive Therapy because of his great contribution to the development of
the cognitive approach in psychology. His ideas changed the way psychologists understand
and treat mental disorders, especially depression. Beck believed that our emotions and
behaviors are strongly affected by the way we think. This simple but powerful idea became
the base of modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
2. Background and Early Life of Aron Beck
Aron Beck was born in 1921 in Rhode Island, United States. He completed his medical
degree from Yale University in 1946 and was trained as a psychiatrist. In the early years of
his career, Beck worked as a psychoanalyst and followed the theories of Sigmund Freud.
However, while treating his patients, he noticed that many of them continued to have
negative thoughts about themselves and the world even after years of psychoanalytic
treatment. This made him question the effectiveness of traditional psychoanalysis.
Out of this observation, Beck started to focus more on the thinking patterns of his patients.
His curiosity about the role of thoughts in emotions and behavior gradually led him towards
developing a new perspective in psychology, the cognitive approach.
3. Beck’s Contribution to the Cognitive Perspective
During the 1960s, psychology was dominated by behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Beck
introduced a new approach that focused on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors. He believed that mental health problems, such as depression, are not only caused
by unconscious conflicts or external rewards and punishments, but mainly by distorted
patterns of thinking.
In this way, Beck became one of the main figures who made the cognitive perspective more
practical and applicable in real-life therapy.
4. Major Contributions and Theories
a. Cognitive Theory of Depression
Beck is best known for his Cognitive Theory of Depression. Through his research, he found
that depressed individuals tend to have a specific pattern of negative thinking. He called this
pattern the Cognitive Triad, which includes:
1. Negative thoughts about the self
“I am not good enough.”
2. Negative thoughts about the world
“Everything around me is bad.”
3. Negative thoughts about the future
“Nothing will ever improve.”
According to Beck, these negative thoughts maintain and worsen the symptoms of
depression.
b. Automatic Thoughts
Beck also introduced the concept of automatic thoughts. Quick, spontaneous thoughts that
appear in our minds without conscious effort. These thoughts are often negative and
unrealistic, but they strongly affect how we feel and act. For example, a student who fails a
test might immediately think, “I’m a failure,” which can lead to sadness or hopelessness.
c. Development of Cognitive Therapy
Based on his theories, Beck developed Cognitive Therapy, which later evolved into
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
The main goal of this therapy is to help people recognize and change their negative thinking
patterns. It is a structured and goal-oriented form of therapy where clients learn to identify
their faulty thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with more balanced and positive ones.
Beck’s therapy provided a practical and scientific way to apply cognitive principles in
treating psychological problems.
d. Research and Achievements
Apart from therapy, Beck also contributed to research tools like the Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI), which is still widely used to measure the severity of depression. His books,
research papers, and clinical methods have had a lasting influence on modern psychology and
psychotherapy.
5. Conclusion
Aron Beck played a major role in transforming the cognitive perspective into a practical and
evidence-based approach. He showed that by changing the way people think, we can change
how they feel and behave. His concepts of the Cognitive Triad, automatic thoughts, and
Cognitive Therapy became the foundation of modern CBT. Through his work, psychology
moved from theoretical explanations to effective, structured treatment methods. Aron Beck’s
contributions continue to guide therapists around the world and have made him one of the
greatest psychologists in history.
