University Student Mental Health (Second Edition)

Author: Ma Jianqing (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features:
Chapter 3: Rebuilding Rational Cognition
Cognition is a significant factor influencing an individual's mental health level. For the same external stimulus, different people may have different psychological experiences and emotional responses, largely due to their varying perceptions of the stimulus. Therefore, one can say that whether a person is mentally suffering or happy depends not only on what they encounter but more on how they perceive these events.
Psychology of mental health suggests that due to the diverse life experiences accumulated over the years, each person develops unique cognitive styles. However, one-sided and incorrect cognitive styles (cognitive distortions) and irrational beliefs (also known as unreasonable beliefs) are often the root causes of psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, and maladjustment. They are one of the major enemies of mental health and psychological development.
While the university student group possesses relatively rich scientific knowledge and strong logical thinking abilities, they still exhibit numerous incorrect cognitions in many aspects of daily life. Therefore, learning cognitive theory, understanding how to identify unreasonable cognitive beliefs, mastering cognitive adjustment techniques, and learning rational cognition will help reduce emotional distress in university students and enhance their ability to adapt to and transform stress and the environment.
Cognition and Psychological Behavior
Cognition serves as the mediator between stimuli and responses. Due to differences in cognition, stimuli acquire different natures and degrees of significance. Research has found that mental health status is largely related to the rationality of cognition. In other words, irrational cognition, or unreasonable beliefs, often lie behind psychological disorders.
### 1. The Relationship Between Cognition, Emotion, and Behavior
The cognition discussed in this chapter, in simple terms, refers to people's thoughts and perspectives on the characteristics, connections, and significance of surrounding objects and their effects on themselves. Cognitive theory studies the cognitive process and the relationship between cognition and an individual's responses to their environment.
1. Cognition as the Mediator of Stimulus-Response
Cognitive theory expresses its core idea with the formula: S—C—R. Here, S represents stimuli, R represents responses, and C (Consciousness) refers to awareness and experiential factors. The theory posits that the relationship between stimuli and responses is not a simple S—R connection but involves consciousness and experience as mediators. The S factor refers to all components in the external world that can elicit stimulation, including external events, situations, others, interpersonal relationships, and one's own behavior, etc. Consciousness C is the perception of this real world. For example, while most people believe that failing an exam (S) is a direct and inevitable cause of disappointment and dejection (R), this is not always the case. University students with high expectations, unprepared for failure, or highly concerned about exam results will react differently from those who are mentally prepared, frequently fail, or are indifferent. Clearly, this difference stems from the varying perceptions and evaluations (C) of the same stimulus (S) among different individuals. Moreover, for the same university student, the response to failing an exam may differ in different situations, as the perception changes with the context.
2. The Determining Role of Cognition in Emotion and Behavior
The process of stimulus-response variation is quite complex. Cognitive theory summarizes this process in a simplified model: First, stimuli become sensory materials through sensory organs. These materials are then filtered through stored past experiences and personality structures, and assigned meaning by thought processes (often automated). Through thinking, individuals can evaluate past events, interpret current events, or anticipate future occurrences. These evaluations, interpretations, and expectations further activate the emotional and motor systems, producing various emotions and behaviors. From this theoretical model, it is evident that cognition plays a decisive role in an individual's response to stimuli. Therefore, the cause of emotional and behavioral issues is not the stimulus itself but the individual's interpretation of it.
3. Cognition and Mental Health
Cognition is closely related to emotion and behavior. Poor cognition often leads to emotional disorders and maladaptive behaviors.
A. Beck, a representative of cognitive theory, observed in his early work treating depressive patients that cognitive factors play a crucial role in depressive disorders, leading him to develop the cognitive theory of emotional disorders. This theory posits that psychological problems are not necessarily caused by mysterious or uncontrollable forces but can arise from ordinary events. For example, incorrect learning, making faulty inferences based on biased or incorrect information, and failing to distinguish between reality and ideals can all contribute to psychological issues. According to this theory, he explains the cognitive processes behind various emotional disorders. He believes that depression stems from the perception of loss in valuable things; the anticipation of gaining something leads to urgency or excitement; anxiety arises when one feels physically or psychologically threatened or perceives the potential loss of something important; and anger results from the perception of blocked goals or damaged self-esteem. In other words, specific cognitions lead to emotional responses such as depression, excitement, anxiety, or anger. Beck also argues that if these cognitions do not align with reality and contain distortions, the resulting emotional responses are inappropriate. If such inappropriate responses persist over time, they may develop into psychological disorders such as depression, mania, anxiety, or paranoia.
In the process of poor cognition affecting mental health, internal speech plays a significant role. Thinking is mediated by language. Internal speech is a non-communicative form of language, referring to a special linguistic phenomenon that occurs during cognitive processes. Cognitive psychology suggests that repeatedly repeating unreasonable beliefs through internal speech can lead to unresolved emotional distress and may form psychological patterns. The words people constantly say to themselves often become or turn into their own thoughts and emotions. Survivors who endured more than ten days in earthquake ruins did not lose hope because they kept telling themselves, "I will be found by people one day," but those who constantly tell themselves, "I am not as good as others" or "I am truly incompetent," often easily fall into a pit of self-doubt and pessimism.
### 2. Common Irrational Beliefs Analyzed
American clinical psychologist Albert Ellis believes that everyone has both rational and irrational aspects. Humans are born with the potential to counter irrational beliefs with rational ones, but they are often overwhelmed by irrational beliefs. In other words, while everyone may have irrational cognitions, some may develop relatively stable irrational beliefs, even being controlled by them. In individuals with psychological disorders, these irrational beliefs are often more pronounced. Below, we will analyze the common irrational beliefs summarized by Ellis, as they frequently cause emotional distress and maladaptive behavior.
1. People should be loved and approved by all who are important to them in life
This is difficult to achieve and may not be truly important. Individuals holding this belief often feel immense pressure, constantly worrying about making any small mistake or saying the wrong thing. They lack security and are prone to self-sabotage.