Abstract
In the practice of cognitive therapy therapists are often faced with the task of selecting a specific cognitive target for intervention. This paper outlines a theoretical rationale that will facilitate selection of targets most likely to lead to meaningful clinical change. Specific technical guidelines, designed to facilitate the therapist's efforts to identify such targets, are proposed. These guidelines derive from a proposed hierarchical model of cognitive structure, which stipulates that cognitive processes vary in terms of how central and peripheral they are with respect to overall cognitive organization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnkoff, D. (1980). Psychotherapy from the perspective of cognitive theory. In M. Mahoney (Ed.),Psychotherapy process. New York: Plenum.
Beck, A. T. (1976).Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities press.
Beck, A. T. (1983). Cognitive therapy of depression. New perspectives. In P. J. Clayton & J. E. Barrett (Eds.),Treatment of depression: Old controversies and new approaches. New York: Raven Press.
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B., & Emery, G. (1979).Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford Press.
Bower, B. G. (1981). Mood and memory.American Psychologist, 36 129–148.
Ellis, A., & Greiger, R. (1977).Handbook of rational-emotional therapy. New York: Springer.
Glass, C. R., Merluzzi, T. V., Biever, J. L., & Larsen, K. M. (1982). Cognitive assessment of social anxiety: Development and validation of a self-statement questionnaire.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6 37–55.
Goldfried, M., Padawer, N., & Robins, C. (1984). Social anxiety and the semantic structure of heterosocial interaction.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 93 87–97.
Greenberg, L. S., & Safran, J. D. (1984). Integrating affect and cognition: A perspective on therapeutic change.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 8 559–578.
Greenberg, L. S., & Safran, J. D. (in press).Affect, cognition and the process of change. New York: Guilford Press.
Greenberg, L. S., & Safran, J. D. (1986).Emotion in Psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.
Guidano, V., & Liotti, G. (1983).Cognitive processes and emotional disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Kelly, G. A. (1955).The psychology of personal constructs. New York: Norton.
Lang, P. (1985). The cognitive psychopathology of emotion, fear and anxiety. In A. Tuma & J. Maser (Eds.),Anxiety and the anxiety disorders. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Erlbaum.
Lang, P., Levin, D., Miller, G., & Kozak, M. (1983). Fear behavior, fear imagery, and the psychophysiology of emotion: The problem of affective response integration.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92 276–306.
Liotti, G. (1984). Cognitive therapy, attachment theory, and psychiatric nosology: A clinical and theoretical inquiry into their interdependence. In M. A. Reda & M. J. Mahoney (Eds.),Cognitive psychotherapies: Recent development in theory, research and practice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Ballinger.
Luborsky, L. (1984).Principles of psychoanalytic psychotheray. New York: Basic Books.
Mahoney, M. J. (1982). Psychotherapy and human change processes. InPsychotherapy research and behavior change (Vol. 1). Washington, D.C.: A.P.A.
Meichenbaum, D. (1977).Cognitive behavior modification. New York: Plenum Press.
Meichenbaum, D., & Gilmore, B. (1984). The nature of unconscious processes: A cognitive-behavioral perspective. In K. S. Bowers & D. Meichenbaum (Eds.),The unconscious reconsidered. New York: Wiley.
Merluzzi, T. V., & Rudy, T. E. (1982).Cognitive assessment of social anxiety: A “surface” and “deep” structure analysis. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Merluzzi, T. V., Rudy, T., & Glass, C. (1981). The information-processing paradigm: Implication for clinical science. In T. Merluzzi, C. Glass, & M. Genest (Eds.),Cognitive assessment. New York: Guilford Press.
Neimeyer, R. A. (1985). Personal constructs in clinical practice. In P. C. Kendall (Ed.),Advances in cognitive-behavioral research and therapy (Vol. 4). New York: Academic Press.
Raimy, V. (1975).Misunderstandings of the self. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Reda, M. A. (1984). Cognitive organization and antidepressants: Attitude modification during amitriptyline treatment in severely depressed individuals. In M. A. Reda & M. J. Mahoney (Eds.),Cognitive psychotherapies (pp. 119–140). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Ballinger.
Rush, A. J., Weissenberger, J., & Eaves, G. (1984).Do thinking patterns predict depressive symptoms? Unpublished manuscript, University of Texas.
Safran, J. D., & Greenberg, L. S. (1982a). Cognitive appraisal and reappraisal: Implications for clinical practice.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6 251–258.
Safran, J. D., & Greenberg, L. S. (1982b). Eliciting “hot cognitions” in cognitive behavior therapy: Rationale and procedural guidelines.Canadian Psychology, 23 83–87.
Safran, J. D., & Greenberg, L. S. (1986). Hot cognition and psychotherapy process: An information processing/ecological perspective. In P. C. Kendall (Ed.),Advances in cognitive-behavioral research and therapy (Vol. 5). New York: Academic Press.
Schlenker, B., & Leary, M. (1982). Social anxiety and self-presentation: A conceptualization and model.Psychological Bulletin, 92 641–785.
Segal, Z. V. (1984).Shifting cognitive assessment strategies from a state to trait focus: The case of self-schema measures. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Philadelphia.
Simons, A., Murphy, G., Levine, J., & Wetzel, R. (1984).Sustained improvement one year after cognitive and/or pharmacotherapy of depression. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, Lake Louise.
Teasdale, J., & Fogarty, S. (1979). Differential effects of induced mood on recall of pleasant and unpleasant events from episodic memory.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88 235–241.
Weissman, A., & Beck, A. T. (1978).Development and validation of the dysfunctional attitude scale: A preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Preparation of this article was supported in part by University of Toronto Grant 3-370-286-70 to the first author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Safran, J.D., Vallis, T.M., Segal, Z.V. et al. Assessment of core cognitive processes in cognitive therapy. Cogn Ther Res 10, 509–526 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01177815
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01177815