Assumptions And Limitations Of Beck's Cognitive Theory

To falsify a theory, the assumptions and limitations of the theory should be evaluated. The main assumption of Beck’s cognitive theory is the role of cognitive processes. Coyne and Gotlib (1983) criticised that on Beck’s cognitive theory and therapy that other factors that can contribute to depression are ignored. Beck’s cognitive theory and therapy mainly focuses on the cognitive aspect of depression. However, a person can be depressed because of the environmental factors and not because of their negative thoughts. For example, a person can be in low mood and unhappiness due to his interpersonal relationship problems with his family and friends (Markowitz, Svartberg, & Swartz, 1998). Consequently, the constant low mood and unhappiness due

Interestingly, Beck’s cognitive therapy is associated with critical rationalism (Hofmann, Asmundson, & Beck, 2013). Critical rationalism is an epistemological philosophy (Popper, 1959, as cited in Hofmann, Asmundson, & Beck, 2013), that assumes that knowledge is only gained from attempting to falsify hypotheses from scientific theories. This principle is applied to Beck’s cognitive therapy. Patients gain knowledge by falsifying their hypotheses based on their beliefs. By falsifying their hypotheses, patients are prompted to update their belief system, which can relief their emotional distress (Hofmann, Asmundson, & Beck, 2013). For example, a depressed patient told his therapist that he is stupid because he only scored 60 for his Mathematics test. The patient’s hypotheses are ‘I am stupid’ and ‘I will never do well’. The therapist will guide the patient to falsify his hypotheses by asking his overall grade and the grade for other subjects. The patient will then learn that his hypotheses are false because he did quite well overall. Thus, he will update his belief system and relief the emotional stress. Therefore, this suggests that Beck’s cognitive therapy employed scientific method to treat patients with mental