Ellis’s ABC Model

Question 1

What is Ellis’s ABC Model?

Answer 1

The idea that an individual develops depression when an event activates (A) irrational beliefs (B) and thoughts, which produce the emotional consequence of depression

Question 2

What does the A stand for in Ellis’s ABC Model?

Answer 2

Activating Event

Question 3

What does the B stand for in Ellis’s ABC Model?

Answer 3

Beliefs

Question 4

What does the C stand for in Ellis’s ABC Model?

Answer 4

Consequence

Question 5

What did Ellis believe caused depression?

Answer 5

The irrational beliefs and thoughts triggered by an activating event- not the event itself

Question 6

What are 3 irrational beliefs Ellis identified?

Answer 6

• Musturbation: the belief we must always succeed and achieve perfection
• Utopionism: the belief life is always meant to be fair
• I-can’t-stand-itis: the belief its disastrous when anything doesn’t go smoothly

Question 7

What is Ellis’s version of CBT called?

Answer 7

REBT: Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy

Question 8

Why isn’t Ellis’s ABC Model generalisable?

Answer 8

It doesn’t explain instances of depression that don’t follow an activating event

Question 9

Why does Ellis’s ABC Model have good explanatory power?

Answer 9

It explains why people often develop depression after unfortunate events, such as bereavement or losing a job