Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Flashcards
basics of REBT
- Dissatisfied with psychoanalytic approach
- Began to experiment with more active and directive approaches
- Began to challenge client’s belief systems and encourage clients to actively work against their own irrational beliefs
- Acknowledges the interdependent role of variables (cognitions, emotions, behavior), but ascribes central role to cognitions
- Humans have biological predispositions to maintain both irrational and rational beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world
- Rational beliefs lead to appropriate behavioral and emotional responses; irrational beliefs lead to inappropriate responses
differences in rational and irrational beliefs
- verifiability
- demandingness
- emotional consequences
- behavioral consequences
- goal attainment
verifiability
- Rational beliefs based upon observable data; possible to cite evidence to support the validity of rational beliefs
- Irrational beliefs cannot be supported by facts; not based on reality
- Example: It is good to have the approval of others; therefore I must have this approval. (first part is rational, second part is irrational)
demandingness
- Irrational beliefs have a demanding, rigid, absolutistic quality to them (often use words like should, must, ought to, need)
- Rational beliefs have more of a relativistic flavor and often reflect preferences, wishes, and desires
- Example: I wish it would stop raining vs. It must stop raining
emotional consequences
- Both rational and irrational beliefs can lead to negative emotions
- Irrational beliefs – leads to types of emotions that have a debilitating effect on people
- Negative emotions produced by rational beliefs are less extreme and can actually facilitate effective functioning. Provide impetus to change situation.
- Anger, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame are considered inappropriate emotions
- Concern, regret, disappointment, and sadness are appropriate emotions
behavioral consequences
IB contribute to self-destructive behaviors, avoidant behaviors, aggressive behaviors
RB increase the probability of engaging in constructive problem-solving behaviors
goal attainment
IB create obstacles to the attainment of life goals (i.e. Good interpersonal relationships, optimal use of skills and abilities)
Create these obstacles through negative emotions and self-defeating behaviors
ABC model of emotions
Origins of emotional disturbance
A = activating events; perceptions of past, present, future events
*A does not have to be an event that actually occurred; it can be an anticipated event
*B = beliefs; rational and irrational thinking about A
*C = consequent emotions and behavior; emotional and behavioral consequences of B
*C can become an A for additional emotional upset
*Example: If Janet believes it would be nice to give a well received lecture, but it’s not absolutely necessary to do so, she’ll be less likely to approach the task with anxiety.
*Example: If Brad believes it’s preferable to do well, but also must do a good job and has to win the approval of the audience in order to prove himself a worthwhile person, he will most likely approach the task with dread and worry.
3 main insights of REBT
- Emotional disturbance is not due primarily to past or events themselves. It stems from the IB which people employ when they think of these events.
- Regardless of how we became disturbed, we remain disturbed in the present because we are continually re-indoctrinating ourselves with the IBs we created in the past.
- We will become less disturbed only if we consistently and continually work at giving up these IBs.
disputation
- Techniques used to help clients find evidence to refute their IBs; the means by which modification in the belief system are effected
- If consistently confronted with strong evidence for the falsity of a given belief, it’s likely the person will reject the belief in favor of a more realistic one
disputation techniques
- cognitive disputation
- behavioral disputation
- emotive disputation
cognitive disputation
*Arguments to demonstrate beliefs are not true, can be presented in a Socratic manner
Where is the evidence for that belief?
Is that really true?
Why must it be so?
Is there another way to think about this?
What’s the worst that could happen? Would that really be awful?
behavioral disputation
- Evidence for invalidity can be obtained by acting against the IBs by engaging in behaviors that run counter to the IBs
- Clients can provide themselves with more “proof” that there are alternative ways of thinking about issues
types of behavioral disputation
- risk taking exercises
2. shame attacking exercises
risk taking exercises
Clients encouraged to engage in behavior that is thought to result in unbearable consequences
Learn that feared outcome is not awful and they can handle it
Example: Man fearful of rejection by women.
Belief: I must have approval of those considered significant.
Encourage him to act against this “must” belief by going out and collecting rejections
With repeated exposure, client learns he can survive rejection. He doesn’t need to be accepted, and may wind up with a date.
