Major Figures/Theories

Question 1

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

Answer 1

• Ellis

1. Key Concepts:
   a. Basic Tenet: We make ourselves miserable & dysfunctional through our irrational beliefs re: how things must and should be
2. Human nature: Irrational vs. rational tendencies
3. Origins of emotional disturbance:
   a. Insisting that something should or must be different from how it is (“musterbation”).
   b. Transforming preferences & desires into absolute needs
4. Emphasis on present vs. historical influences: the adherence to irrational beliefs, rather than their origins, it is responsible for emotional distress.
5. Goals: Identify and challenge the irrational beliefs that are at the root of emotional/behavioral disturbance

Question 2

ABCDE Model:

Answer 2

• A - Activating event
• B – Beliefs
o Rational beliefs: appropriate, emotions & behavioral consequences
o Irrational beliefs: dysfunctional, emotional & behavioral consequences
• C – Consequences
• D – Disputation
• E - Effective new philosophy

Overall: Disturbed emotions/behaviors are consequences, determined by our beliefs about an activating event.

Question 3

Types of Irrational beliefs vs. Rational beliefs

Answer 3

• Rigid Demands vs Flexible Preferences – I must be approved of vs. I want to be approved of
• Awfulizing Beliefs vs. Non-Awfulizing Beliefs – If I’m not in a relationship, it’s the end of the world
• Low Frustration Tolerance vs. High Frustration Tolerance Beliefs – I can’t tolerate not being successful
• Depreciating Beliefs vs. Acceptance Beliefs – I’m worthless if I am rejected

Question 4

REBT Goals & Process

Answer 4

• Goals: Identify and challenge irrational beliefs that are the root of emotional disturbance
• Philosophical re-orientation rather than mere symptom reduction
• Process may focus on changing content and or form of beliefs (e.g. demands to preferences)
• Cognitive, emotive and behavioral methods to attack ib’s from multiple angles

Question 5

Cognitive methods: Teach clients how to

Answer 5

• Recognize irrational thoughts
• Differentiate rational from irrational
• Apply rules of logic and science to change thinking

Question 6

Emotive-Evocative Methods

Answer 6

• More dramatic, provocative and experiential method to weaken irrational beliefs.
• Imagery
• Shame attack exercises
• Role Playing
• Humor

Question 7

Behavioral Methods

Answer 7

• Behavior modification
• Behavioral assignments to discover and refute irrational beliefs
• Skills Training

Question 8

Discouraging Self-Evaluation

Answer 8

• Discourages client from evaluating or rating themselves in a global fashion and encourages them to rate their performance or behavior instead

Question 9

Therapeutic Relationship

Answer 9

• Unconditional acceptance of client as a human being is critical
• Unconditional warmth and acceptance
• Forceful Disputation is necessary to get to entrenched irrational beliefs

Question 10

Rationale for use of forceful disputation:

Answer 10

• Thought that the irrational beliefs were so entrenched that forceful movement was needed in order to budge them.
i. Used terms like “destroy” and “make mincemeat.”

Question 11

Disputation

Answer 11

• Scientific questioning, challenging, and debating to help persuade client to surrender ib’s.