9) Cognitive Behavioural Approach 2 Flashcards
Who developed REBT?
Albert Ellis in 1955
What does REBT stand for?
Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy
What is the central view of the REBT approach?
That the cause of a response is not due to external events that happen and influence us, it’s the way the events are thought about and perceived.
What are the three fundamental goals that Ellis believed we had?
- to survive
- to be free from pain
- to be satisfied with our lives, content
What are the two opposing biological tendencies that Ellis believes we are pulled between?
Self-preservation and Self-destruction
What does it mean to be acting in line with self-preservation?
Rational Living
Give examples of what rational living looks like
achieving goals
becoming actualised (full potential)
being happy
acting in a way that allows you to reach your goals
What does self-destruction refer to in terms of living?
Irrational Living
Give examples of what irrational living involves
irrational thinking
perfectionism
superstition
intolerance of things
How are thoughts and feelings linked?
It is believed by Ellis that what you think is what you will feel i.e.: thinking negative will more likely lead to negative emotions
How are thoughts and feelings represented?
Represented by self-talk or internalised sentences
How does an individuals thoughts and feelings impact behaviour?
We act based on our thoughts which influence our feelings which then influence our behaviour
Can behaviour influence our thoughts and feelings
Yes, depending on how we have behaved and what we have done
What does the ABC Theory of Personality illustrate?
This theory is central to REBT
Illustrates ways events impact us, how we think and perceive them, how we create our own emotional disturbances
Outline ABC Theory of Personality
A - Activating event or Adversity
This is something that happens that leads to some kind of emotional response or may block you from achieving one of your goals
B - Belief
This is the key part, this is the pre-existing belief that you have about the situation, the beliefs you have about life and the world in general. This influences the consequences
C - Consequences
These occur as a result of activating event. They can be emotional or behavioural, healthy or unhealthy
Give examples of emotional consequences
angry, sad, embarrassed, relief, happy
Give examples of behavioural consequences
looking for a new job, reflect on activating event
What are rational beliefs?
Healthy, productive beliefs that are consistent with social reality (they can be backed up by what you can see)
What are irrational beliefs?
Rigid, unhealthy and maladaptive beliefs that don’t change
Explain rational beliefs with regards to the ABC model
Activating event occurs, sabotaging a goal
(rational) BELIEF: I prefer to have my goals unblocked
Consequence:
- may feel frustrated (negative but not unhealthy consequence)
- then individual would adjust their behaviour in a way that addresses challenge
Explain irrational beliefs with regards to the ABC model
Activating event occurs, sabotaging a goal
(irrational) BELIEF: I must have my goals unblocked
Consequence:
- may also feel frustrated
- however more likely to be an extreme emotional consequence.
- May extend to more severe anxiety, self-loathing, more of a self-defeating reaction to activating event.
What are primary beliefs also referred to as?
Musturbations
What does musturbation mean?
This is the irrational belief that things must be a certain way.
These can be split into 3 categories
What are the 3 categories that primary demanding beliefs can be split into?
- beliefs about the self: I have to do well, I must do well
- beliefs about the others: you must treat me well
- broad beliefs of the world: the world must be easy for me, I must find things easy
What are the 3 derivative ways that primary demanding beliefs can be expressed as?
- Awfulizing
- I-can’t-stand-it-itis
- Damning self/others
What does awfulizing mean?
the idea that if things do not go a certain way, it is going to be awful
What does I-can’t-stand-it-itis mean?
the concept of having a low frustration tolerance, the belief that it is going to be unbearable if I fail
What does damning self/others mean?
also known as self or other depreciation and is the belief that if I fail it means I am a complete failure as a person
What is the secondary demanding beliefs?
Where consequences becomes the activating event, triggering a negative spiral