Final answer:
Aaron T. Beck would describe the problem found in depression as cognitive distortion, where negative and distorted thinking patterns play a central role in the onset and maintenance of depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychologist Aaron T. Beck would describe the problem found in depression as D. Cognitive distortion. Beck's influential work within the field of psychology focused on the cognitive model of depression, which emphasizes the role of negative thinking patterns in the development of depression. Beck proposed that individuals with depression tend to process information in ways that reinforce negative beliefs about themselves, their future, and the world (Beck, 1976; Beck, 2008). This often includes thoughts that are distorted, irrational, and overly pessimistic. Beck's approach to treating depression, known as cognitive therapy, targets these cognitive distortions and aims to replace them with more balanced and realistic thoughts.
While learned helplessness, originally studied by Seligman, is another concept associated with depression, it is not the one Beck is known for. Learned helplessness relates to the perception of having no control over the course of events in one's life, leading to passivity and potentially to depression (Seligman, Maier, & Geer, 1968). However, Beck's cognitive model specifically identifies cognitive distortions as the core issue in depression, which is distinct from the concept of learned helplessness.