Key Concepts k1n5b

Key Concepts

A-B-C Framework

View of Human Nature

A-B-C framework is central to REBT theory and practice. This model provides a useful tool for understanding the client’s feeling, thoughts, events, and behavior. A is the existence of a fact, an activating event, or the behavior or attitude of an individual. C is the emotional and behavioral consequence or reaction of the individual; reaction can be either healthy or unhealthy. A does not cause C. Instead, B, which is the person’s belief about A, largely causes C, the emotional reaction.

Rational emotive behavior therapy is based on the assumption that human beings are born with a potential for both rational, or “straight” thinking and irrational, or “crooked” thinking. People have predispositions for self preservation, happiness, thinking and verbalizing, loving, communion with others, and growth and self-actualization. They are also have propensities for self destruction, avoidance of thought, procrastination, endless repetition of mistakes, superstition, intolerance, perfectionism and self-blame, and avoidance of actualizing growth potentials.

The interaction of the various components can be diagrammed like this: A (Activating event)

View of Emotional Disturbance REBT is based on the premise that although we originally learn irrational beliefs from significant others during childhood, we create irrational dogmas by ourselves. Ellis insists that blame is at the core of most emotional disturbances. Therefore, to recover from a neurosis or a personality disorder, we had better stop blaming ourselves and others. Here are three basic musts (or irrational beliefs) that we internalize that inevitably lead to self-defeat.  

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“I must do well and win the approval of others for my performances or else I am no good” “Other people must treat me considerately, fairly, kindly, and in exactly the way I want them treat me. If they are no good and they deserve to be condemned and punished,” “I must get what I want, when I want it; and I must not get what I don’t want. If I don’t get what I want, it’s terrible, and I can’t stand it.”

Although REBT encourages people to experience healthy feelings of sadness over being unaccepted, it attempts to help them find ways of overcoming unhealthy feelings of depression, anxiety, hurt, loss of self-worth, and hatred.

B (belief) C (emotional and behavioral consequence)

D (disputing intervention)

E (effect) F (new feeling)

Cognitive Restructuring is a central technique of cognitive therapy that teaches people how to improve themselves by replacing faulty cognitions with constructive beliefs. Restructuring involves helping clients learn to monitor their self-talk, identify maladaptive self-talk, and substitute adaptive self-talk for their negative self-talk.

Prepared by: Capuli, Pretsie-Ann M CAS 06 601P