Beck's cognitive triad, also known as the negative triad, is an irrational and pessimistic view of the three key elements of a person's belief system present in depression. It was proposed by Aaron Beck in 1976. The triad forms part of his cognitive theory of depression and the concept is used as part of CBT. The triad involves automatic and spontaneous negative thoughts about: * The self (e.g. "I'm worthless and ugly") * The world/environment (e.g. "No one values me") and * The future (e.g. "I'm hopeless because things will never change").