Reframing Cognitive Behaviour Theory from a Systems Perspective

Victor MacGill ()
Additional contact information
Victor MacGill: University of the Sunshine Coast

Systemic Practice and Action Research, 2018, vol. 31, issue 5, No 3, 495-507

Abstract: Abstract The author has worked with Cognitive Behaviour Theory for many years. His interest in systems theory prompted him to explore CBT from a systems perspective. This led to six observations that are then explored. This paper therefore begins by looking at the linearity of CBT and how feedback loops might be better incorporated. Next, the nature of perception is explored with ideas from Maturana and others. The third aspect investigates core beliefs and how they impact at all steps of the decision-making process. Fourthly, an examination of thoughts and emotional revealed other ways we make sense of the world and challenges the idea that thinking precedes emotion. The next aspect looks at CBT’s assumption of the individual as a separate being rather than a systems view which sees a person highly interconnected and finally that CBT focuses on making sense of the present moment rather than predictions we make of likely future outcomes. This is then all brought together in a diagram reframing CBT, highlighting the centrality of awareness to all cognitive processes and a number of leverage points where change might emerge.

Keywords: Cognitive behaviour theory; Core beliefs; Perception; Boundaries; Anticipation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11213-017-9440-9 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:syspar:v:31:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1007_s11213-017-9440-9

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/journal/11213

DOI: 10.1007/s11213-017-9440-9

Access Statistics for this article

Systemic Practice and Action Research is currently edited by Robert Flood

More articles in Systemic Practice and Action Research from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().