Positive Core Belief Evidence Record
Core beliefs are deep-rooted, global, and absolute judgments about oneself, other people, and the world. According to the cognitive model, activated core beliefs bias information processing and memory recall, thereby shaping how individuals think, feel, and behave. Working at the level of core beliefs usually involves re-evaluating clients’ negative beliefs or strengthening positive beliefs. The latter approach is believed to be particularly effective in helping individuals accept and recall positive life experiences, and to think more flexibly.
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
Core beliefs are the most fundamental level of cognition and are embedded in schemas. Schemas are an important cognitive structure in the cognitive theory of psychopathology and are believed to contribute to both the development and maintenance of psychological disorders, as well as their recurrence and relapse (Arntz, 2018; Riso & McBride, 2007). Beck (1967) defines schemas as structures “for screening, coding, and evaluating the stimuli that impinge on the organism” (p.283). In this context, core beliefs comprise the verbal representation or ‘content’ of a schema (Beck, 2011; Wills, 2022).
Core beliefs are global, unconditional, and overgeneralized beliefs about the self, other people, and the world. Also referred to as ‘unconditional beliefs’ or ‘central assumptions’, they are usually phrased as all-or-nothing, absolute truths (e.g., “I am good”, “I am bad”) and are experienced by individuals as “just the way things are” (Dowd, 2002).
Core beliefs are also strongly held and
Therapist Guidance
"It sounds as though the negative core belief you hold about <yourself / other people / the world> plays an important role in your difficulties. One way that we can address this negative belief is to help you develop a new, positive belief about <yourself / other people / the world>. Would you like to try this?"
Your new positive core belief
Help the client identify a new core belief that they want to strengthen. Some clients readily identify a positive belief they held before the onset of their difficulties, while others need to construct an entirely new one. Either way, ensure the belief is stated in the client’s own words and uses emotionally resonant language. If the client is multilingual, encourage them to use the language that best relates to their difficulties (Padesky & Greenberger, 2020). Finding the right wording for this belief may take several weeks and clients
References And Further Reading
- Arntz, A. (2018). Modifying core beliefs. In S. C. Hayes & S. G. Hoffman (Eds.), Process-based CBT: The science and core clinical competencies of cognitive behavioral therapy (pp.339-350). Context Press.
- Beck, A. T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretic aspects. Harper and Row.
- Beck, A. T. (1999). Cognitive aspects of personality disorders and their relation to syndromal disorders: A psychoevolutionary approach. In C. R. Cloninger (Ed.): Personality and psychopathology (pp.411-429). American Psychiatric Press.
- Beck, A. T., & Freeman, A. (1990). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders (1st edition). Guilford Press.
- Beck, J. S. (2005). Cognitive therapy for challenging problems: What to do when the basics don’t work. Guilford Press.
- Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Brewin, C. R. (2006). Understanding cognitive behaviour therapy: A retrieval competition account. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44, 765-784. DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2006.02.005.
- Chi, D., Zhong, H., Wang, Y., Ma,