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Descriptive/Inferential Cognitive Processes and Evaluative Cognitive Processes: Relationships Among Each Other and with Emotional Distress

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Abstract

We aimed to delineate key constructs from two forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy: cognitive therapy and rational-emotive behavior therapy. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the interrelations among each other and with emotional distress. The key constructs of the underlying theories of these therapies (i.e., descriptive/inferential beliefs, evaluative beliefs) are often treated together as distorted cognitions and included as such in various scales. We used a cross-sectional design. Seventy-four undergraduate students (mean age = 24.68) completed measures of automatic thoughts and emotional distress. Three therapists trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy divided automatic thoughts into descriptive/inferential beliefs and evaluative beliefs by consensus. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed. These constructs showed medium to high associations to each other and to distress. The relationship between descriptive/inferential beliefs and distress was mediated by evaluative beliefs. Descriptive and inferential cognitions may not produce emotions without first being appraised in terms of personal relevance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeş-Bolyai University, No. 37, Republicii St., 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Andreea Vîslă & Daniel David

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Andreea Vîslă & Martin grosse Holtforth

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Martin grosse Holtforth

  4. Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Box 1130, New York, NY, USA

    Daniel David

Authors
  1. Andreea Vîslă
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  2. Martin grosse Holtforth
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  3. Daniel David
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreea Vîslă.

Appendix

Appendix

Descriptions and inferences

  • 2. I don’t think I can go on.

  • 4. Nothing feels good anymore.

  • 6. I can’t get started.

  • 7. What’s wrong with me?

  • 9. I’ll never make it.

  • 13. My future is bleak.

  • 14. It’s just not worth it.

  • 15. I can’t finish anything.

Evaluations

  • 1. I’m no good.

  • 3. I’m so disappointed in myself.

  • 5. I can’t stand this anymore.

  • 8. I’m worthless.

  • 10. I feel so helpless.

  • 11. Something has to change.

  • 12. There must be something wrong with me.

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Vîslă, A., Holtforth, M.g. & David, D. Descriptive/Inferential Cognitive Processes and Evaluative Cognitive Processes: Relationships Among Each Other and with Emotional Distress. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 33, 148–159 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-015-0207-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-015-0207-x

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