What did Aaron Beck focus on in cognitive therapy?

• A. Adaptive thinking.
• B. Automatic behavioral changes.
• C. Maladaptive thinking.
• D. Behavioral reinforcement only.

Answer: (C)

Beck's approach centers on how people think, not just how they behave. He proposed that emotional problems arise from maladaptive thinking patterns—automatic negative thoughts and distorted beliefs about oneself, others, and the world. The therapy aims to identify these cognitions, examine their accuracy, and replace them with more balanced interpretations. Through tools like thought records and Socratic questioning, clients learn to challenge dysfunctional thoughts and test them against evidence. As these cognitions become more adaptive, mood and behavior improve. The focus isn’t on simply promoting adaptive thinking as a goal alone, nor on changing behavior or reinforcement without addressing the underlying thoughts.