“Self-Blame and Depressive Cognitions Following Trauma in The First Ride (2025): An Analysis Through Beck's Cognitive Theory of Depression and Ehlers and Foa's Cognitive Model of Trauma”

This study examines the representation of self-blame and depressive cognitions following trauma in The First Ride (2025) through the theoretical perspectives of Aaron T. Beck’s Cognitive Theory of Depression and the cognitive models of trauma developed by Anke Ehlers and Edna Foa. The research explores how traumatic experiences shape the protagonist’s negative beliefs about the self, the world, and the future, contributing to feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and emotional withdrawal. Drawing on Beck’s concept of the cognitive triad, the study analyzes the ways in which distorted thought patterns reinforce depressive symptoms and hinder psychological recovery. Furthermore, Ehlers and Foa’s theories provide a framework for understanding how maladaptive trauma appraisals and persistent self-blame maintain emotional distress. Through a close examination of character development, narrative structure, and emotional responses, the study argues that The First Ride presents trauma as a psychological process in which cognition plays a central role in shaping both suffering and recovery (Beck 11–25; Beck et al. 45–58; Ehlers and Clark 319–345; Foa and Rothbaum 28–41). In addition, the study investigates the relationship between memory, emotional regulation, and identity reconstruction in the aftermath of trauma. The film portrays how unresolved traumatic experiences influence the protagonist’s perception of personal responsibility and contribute to recurring patterns of self-criticism and psychological isolation. By examining the interaction between traumatic memory and depressive cognition, the research highlights the ways in which negative self-appraisals become integrated into an individual’s sense of identity. The analysis further suggests that recovery begins when distorted interpretations of traumatic events are challenged and replaced with more adaptive cognitive frameworks. Consequently, The First Ride offers a nuanced depiction of the psychological consequences of trauma while emphasizing the importance of cognitive processes in both vulnerability and resilience (Beck et al. 67–81; Ehlers and Clark 330–338; Foa and Rothbaum 52–63; Janoff-Bulman 84–97).

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Keywords: Self-Blame , Trauma , Depression , Cognitive Theory , The First Ride