Beck s Theory Of Psychodynamic Research
History and Uses
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) grew out of dissatisfaction of certain therapists with traditional
psychoanalysis. Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis were both instrumental in the development of this
approach to psychotherapy (Van Bilsen, p. 7), though Beck, a psychoanalyst, is primarily credited with
its development. Beck did research on depression, in the 1950 s, which was intended to give evidence
in support of the theory that retroflected hostility was at the root of depression, but the research failed
to confirm his hypothesis. As a result, he expanded his research on depression and came to the
realization that depressed subjects held predictably negative thoughts about themselves, the future and
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Beck, p. 3) Later in the book, he quotes the Stoic emperor, Marcus Aurelius as saying, If thou are
pained by any external thing, it is not the thing that disturbs thee, but thine own judgement about it.
And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgement now (Marcus Aurelius, quoted in A.T. Beck, p. 263)
In general, the Stoic philosophers believed that we should recognize the difference between things we
have power over and things that we have no power over. They taught that people are best served when
they put their energy into dealing with the things that lie within their control. This idea is succinctly
illustrated in the Serenity Prayer, used in numerous support groups. (Robertson, p. 20) One could say
that Beck s chief accomplishment was to take truths that had been known for centuries and apply them
in a way that was therapeutic. Although Ellis, Beck (and a few others) get a great deal of credit for the
creation of CBT, they freely admit to being influenced, not only by the ancient philosophers, but also
by earlier practitioners of the burgeoning art of psychotherapy. For example, referring to Paul Dubois
work around the turn of the century, Ellenberger said Dubois told of his method of treating phobias.
Emotions, he said, always follow ideas, so the treatment should go to the root, namely, the erroneous
idea the patient has allowed to creep into his mind (Ellenberger,
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