Final answer:
The cognitive perspective attributes mental illness primarily to maladaptive thought processes, emphasizing the importance of cognitive therapy in modifying detrimental thinking patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the cognitive perspective, the root of mental illness is c) Maladaptive thought processes. This approach focuses on how we process information and suggests that mental health conditions can arise from problematic thinking patterns that can be persistently negative or unrealistic.
It acknowledges the possible influence of biological and environmental factors, but primarily sees the way individuals understand and interpret their experiences as central to the development and maintenance of psychological disorders. For example, cognitive therapy aims to help individuals alter maladaptive thought patterns to improve their mental health.