Comparative structure of similarities and differences between tree and cognitive model of Cognitive Behavioral Theory

Marcelos, Maria de Fátima; Nagem, Ronaldo Luiz; Andrade, Alan Rodrigo

doi:10.1590/1982-0275202340e220010

Maria de Fátima Marcelos Correspondence to: M. F. MARCELOS. E-mail: fatimamarcelos@gmail.com.

conception of the work

research and writing of all the sections of the article

analysis, interpretation, and discussion of the results

revision according to APA and journal norms

approval of the final version

Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Grupo de Pesquisa em Analogias e Metáforas na Tecnologia, na Educação e na Ciência. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Brasília, DF, Brasil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6605-5862

Ronaldo Luiz Nagem

writing and revision on A&Ms

elaboration and revision of the charts

analysis, interpretation, and discussion of the results

approval of the final version

Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Grupo de Pesquisa em Analogias e Metáforas na Tecnologia, na Educação e na Ciência. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Brasília, DF, Brasil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1160-4796

Alan Rodrigo Andrade

writing and revision on CBT

elaboration and revision of the chartss

analysis, interpretation, and discussion of the results

final approval

Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Departamento Acadêmico de Educação, Grupo de Estudos em Metáforas, Modelos e Analogias na Tecnologia, Educação e Ciência. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9392-6424

Correspondence to: M. F. MARCELOS. E-mail: fatimamarcelos@gmail.com.

Editor

André Luiz Monezi de Andrade

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interests.

Similarities		Differences
Vehicle	Target	Vehicle	Target
Tree	CBT Cognitive Model Core/Central Beliefs (CBs) ↓ Intermediate Beliefs (IBs) ↓ Automatic Thoughts (ATs)	Tree	CBT Cognitive Model Core/Central Beliefs (CBs) ↓ Intermediate Beliefs (IBs) ↓ Automatic Thoughts (ATs)
It’s a tree	It’s a tree	Literal tree	Metaphorical tree
Complex system	Complex system	Physically exists	Doesn’t physically exist
Supports the structure, but with constant modifications	Supports the structure, but with constant modifications	Changes in morphology, physiology, biochemistry	Changes in beliefs and thoughts
Three basic parts	Three basic parts	Root, trunk, leaves	CBs, IBs, ATs
The root is the base; trunk, the intermediate part; leaves, the top part	The CBs are the base, IBs are the middle, ATs are the top	The tree has a branched root, a single branched trunk, and many leaves	The cognitive model can have several CBs, several IBs, and several ATs
Some leaves are close together; others, with a common trunk, are far apart.	There are thoughts close together; others, with common IBs, far apart	The leaves are directly connected to the trunk of the tree (intermediate part)	The ATs are directly connected to the CBs, (deepest level)
It requires a few factors for its survival	It requires a few factors for its existence	Needs: light, water, soil	Needs: situation, cognitive assessment, emotion, behavior
The tree develops throughout its existence	The cognitive model develops throughout its existence	The development increases the branching of the root, branches, leaves, thickens the root, trunk, branches	Development increases CBs, IBs, and ATs, making them stronger or weaker based on functionality or dysfunctionality
A branch falls, takes the leaves that are attached	A IB is deconstructed, takes away attached ATs

Similarities		Differences
Vehicle	Target	Vehicle	Target
Root	Core/Central Beliefs (CBs)	Root	Core/Central Beliefs (CBs)
It’s the base of the tree	Are the base of the cognitive model	Branched, cylindrical, achlorophyllous structure	Lasting, fundamental, profound concepts
Fixation and support	Fixation and support	Anchors the tree to the ground and upholds it	Supports the structure of the cognitive model
Nutrition	Nutrition	Nourishes the tree trunk and crown	Nourishes IBs and ATs
Rigid	Rigid	Tissue rigidity due to the presence of substances such as lignin	Rigidity in ideas, due to life history, education, trauma, relationship with environment/culture/values, neurobiological vulnerability
Different types	Different types	Underground, aerial	Lovelessness, helplessness, worthlessness
The underground root remains covered	CBs remain covered	Covered up by the soil	Covered up by behaviors
The underground root is not visible	The CBs, at first, are not visible.	A person knows it exists	The person does not know that their CBs exist
The underground root is difficult to access	CBs are difficult to access	Accessible by excavation	Accessible through psychotherapy
The underground root runs deep	CBs run deep	Underground roots run deep, aerial don’t	All CBs run deep
They originate early, at the start of plant formation, and get stronger in life	They originate early, at early development, and get stronger in life	It originates from the radicle	They originate from the way a person seeks to understand the environment
		A tree has a single taproot	A person can have several different independent CBs

Similarities		Differences
Vehicle	Target	Vehicle	Target
Trunk	Intermediate Beliefs (IBs)	Trunk	Intermediate Beliefs (IBs)
Intermediate part of the tree	Intermediate part of the cognitive model	It is the stem of the trees	Rules, attitudes, and assumptions as truths
Connects underground root to leaves	Connects Core/Central beliefs (CBs) to Automatic Thoughts (ATs)	A tree has a single trunk	In a person’s cognitive model, many IBs can coexist
Each trunk connects to a single root	Each IB connects to a single CB	The trunk ramifies to form branches	IBs do not unfold into other IBs
Located at the ground surface, are easy to access	They are at the surface of the behaviors, are easy to access	Despite easy access, it’s rigid	Can be rigid or not
Support	Support	Physical support	Gives meaning to CBs
Connected to the root	Connected to the CBs	It ceases to exist when cut, but the root remains	It only ceases to exist when the CB to which it is attached is extinguished
Conduction	Conduction	It conducts sap to the leaves and root	It conducts the CB values to the ATs
Originate early	Originate early	It originates from the seed at the beginning of plant formation	Originates from CBs, at early development
Develop throughout life	Develop throughout life	Is more developed at the base than at the apex	Same structure throughout its length.
Gives rise to other structures	Gives rise to other structures	Buds give rise to branches and leaves	It originates adaptation to CBs and makes them more functional.
Essential for plan growth	Essential for model growth	Source of hormones that develop the plant	Source of rules that develop ATs

Similarities		Differences
Vehicle	Target	Vehicle	Target
Leaves	Automatic Thoughts (ATs)	Leaves	Automatic Thoughts (ATs)
Top of the tree	Top of the cognitive model	Photosynthesizing organ, stem expansion	Quick, evaluative thoughts
Numerous	Numerous	They arise from the apical or cauline meristem from the embryo germ	They arise spontaneously in situations from the CBs
Located at the ground surface	They are at the surface of the behaviors	Difficult to access due to the size of the tree	Are easy to access
Connected to the trunk	Connected to the IBs	Leaves from the same tree look alike	Different ATs can coexist in a situation
Present in every tree	Present in everyone’s cognitive model	Except in the case of deciduous plants they are constant throughout the life of a tree	They occur when thinking of the past, experiencing the present, and when imagining the future
Produce something	Produce something	They produce glucose through photosynthesis	They produce positive or negative emotions through their interpretations
		Fixed on the branch	Uncontrollable, in the form of flashes
		They always appear in the same shape	They come in the form of phrases or images

[1] Correspondence to: M. F. MARCELOS. E-mail: fatimamarcelos@gmail.com.

Brasil

Brasil

Comparative structure of similarities and differences between tree and cognitive model of Cognitive Behavioral Theory

Estrutura comparativa de semelhanças e diferenças entre árvore e modelo cognitivo da Teoria Cognitivo-Comportamental

Abstract

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusion