Beck's cognitive triad

Beck's cognitive triad, also known as the negative triad, is a cognitive-therapeutic view of the three key elements of a person's belief system present in depression. It was proposed by Aaron Beck in 1967. The triad forms part of his cognitive theory of depression and the concept is used as part of CBT, particularly in Beck's "Treatment of Negative Automatic Thoughts" (TNAT) approach.

The triad involves "automatic, spontaneous and seemingly uncontrollable negative thoughts" about:

• The self
• The world or environment
• The future

Examples of this negative thinking include:

• The self – "I'm worthless and ugly" or "I wish I was different"
• The world – "No one values me" or "people ignore me all the time"
• The future – "I'm hopeless because things will never change" or "things can only get worse!"