'Cognitive explanations of depression are too reductionist to be useful.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use examples of research you have studied to support your answer.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [12] Marks: use generic levels of response in table C.
2. [12] Syllabus: Explanations of depression; cognitive (Beck, 1979)
3. [12] Most likely (any other appropriate responses should be credited): For: people are different and what applies to some people will not apply to many others.
4. [12] there are alternative approaches (biological (chemical imbalance) and learned helplessness)
5. [12] being reductionist may exclude the role of other contributory factors
6. [12] Against: the cognitive explanation is useful because depression in many people is due to 'cognitive' factors which Beck identifies.
7. [12] reducing to one explanation allows it to be studied more specifically to identify individual factors responsible.
8. [12] useful because a treatment is based on this approach – cognitive restructuring.