REBT revision

Question 1

Who developed REBT, when, and why?

Answer 1

Albert Ellis in the 50s due to frustration w/ psychodynamic psychotherapy - REBT now acknowledged as ‘the first CBT’.

Question 2

What are the 5 qualities of rational beliefs?

Answer 2

1. Flexible
2. Non-extreme
3. Pragmatic
4. Logical
5. Reality-based

Question 3

What are the 4 qualities of irrational beliefs?

Answer 3

1. Rigid
2. Extreme
3. Illogical
4. Empirically inconsistent w/ reality

Question 4

What are the some of the values inherent to REBT?

Answer 4

Self-interest and social interest
Self-responsibility
Tolerance of others
Flexible thinking
Acceptance of uncertainty
Risk-taking
Realistic expectations
High frustration tolerance

Question 5

What is the stated aim of REBT?

Answer 5

To help people live longer, minimise their emotional distress and self-defeating behaviours, and live a more fulfilling and happier existence

Question 6

What are the 3 core insights REBT seeks to impart?

Answer 6

1. You mainly create your own emotional disturbances by irrational beliefs you tell yourself
2. No matter when you started to disturb yourself, if you are upset today, you are still believing dogmatic irrational beliefs
3. To eliminate anxiety etc, there is no way but work and practice

Question 7

What is the ABCDE model in REBT?

Answer 7

Activating event
Beliefs
emotional Consequence
Disputation
new Emotional Effect

Question 8

What are the 3 levels of belief in REBT?

Answer 8

Assessment (e.g., “I’ve lost the use of my left side”)
Expectation (e.g., “I should be able to use my left side”)
Evaluation (e.g., “It’s terrible that I can’t use my left side”)

Question 9

What are 3 types of evaluation in beliefs in REBT?

Answer 9

Low frustration tolerance (e.g., “I can’t stand it”)
Self-downing (e.g., “I’m useless”)
Catastrophisation (e.g., “It’s the end of the world”)

Question 10

What are some problems with the reliability and validity of REBT measures?

Answer 10

Questionable internal consistency (the Irrational Beliefs Inventory), not all Ellis factors represented (the Attitudes and Beliefs Scale - 2))

Question 11

What is a difficulty in identifying irrational beliefs?

Answer 11

They require an activating event - they may not be apparent until a crisis.
Despite limitations, homework recording and therapy sessions are the best way to tap them.

Question 12

What is a key component for each REBT session?

Answer 12

Setting goals and outcomes for each session.

Question 13

How can you dispute at different levels of belief?

Answer 13

Assessment: “Have you lost the use of the left side of your body?”
Expectation: “Why must you have the use of it?”
Evaluation: “How awful is it really?”

Question 14

What kinds of negative emotions does REBT distinguish between?

Answer 14

Healthy negative emotions (e.g., concern, remorse, “non-problematic anger”).

Unhealthy negative emotions –cause psychic pain and discomfort, lead to self-defeating behaviours, block goals, and perpetuate dysfunctional thinking.

Question 15

If a client is depressed about being anxious, what would REBT call the depression?

Answer 15

A meta-emotional problem, or second order emotional distress

Question 16

Both CBT and REBT are based on Ellis’ ABC model. What are some differences between the two?

Answer 16

CBT emphasises negative beliefs, REBT emphasises process of demandingness.
REBT more consistent w/ cognitive psychology, especially appraisal theory of emotions.

Question 17

Three types of acceptance in REBT?

Answer 17

1. Unconditional self-acceptance
   - I am a fallible human being with good and bad points
2. Unconditional other-acceptance
   - Other people will treat me unfairly. No reason they must treat me fairly. They’re worthy regardless.
3. Unconditional life-acceptance
   - Life not always how you want. No reason it must be. Life never awful, always bearable.

Question 18

What is idea of a good person in REBT?

Answer 18

People do good or good things, they are not good or

bad themselves.