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Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory



Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory

Introduction

Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory is integral to the current zeitgeist of psychology. The thrust of cognitive theory aims at illuminating the role of thinking in the phenomenon of emotion. Cognitive theories are recent additions to the traditionally controversial area of the psychology of emotion. Albert Ellis helped develop cognitive behavioral theory from 1955 and made ??rational emotive Behavioral Theory (Sparks, 2001). Today he is considered by the American psychological community as the father of cognitive behavioral therapy and is one of the most influential psychotherapists of the history of contemporary psychology.

Ellis called his therapy the "rational emotive therapy," which began to develop over 50 years, marking the beginning of cognitivism. Its shape bore similarities to work with the "cognitive therapy" Beck and currently there are many undercurrents, variants and schools that have used therapeutic principles proposed by both authors. Currently Ellis Rational Emotive Therapy is followed with a model that has overcome some of their original conceptions, has incorporated a constructivist and adopted new resources, so it can be considered "post-rationalist".

Ellis focused his theory on the simple phrase attributed to the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus: "People are disturbed not by events but by what they think about the facts." For this author, emotions are the result of an event trigger, event or situation which results in the development of a system of beliefs, from which the subject develops emotions, thoughts and actions. According to his model, many people build erroneous beliefs from negative events that make them intalarse in attitudes or ways of feeling emotions that cause or perpetuate dysfunctional behaviors them unnecessary suffering or disproportionate to the situation (London, 1995). These behaviors are behaviors or attitudes "self-saboteurs" (contrary to the interests or objectives), which impede (or impede) the implementation of the behaviors necessary to achieve our objectives. In general, are characterized by being associated with absolutist claims and other cognitive distortions (basic concept of this theory). All these absolutist claims could be grouped into three classes:

Complaints about yourself ("I must ..." or "I need ...").

Demands on the other ("he must ..." or "thou shalt ...").

Demands on the world ("the world must ..." or "life must ...").

There are a variety of "thinking errors" typical where people are obsessed and loses its ability to see other aspects of life. It is mainly due to a tendency to ignore the positive, negative and exaggerated generalizations referred to them. For Ellis, the change must be directed to decline the "philosophy applicant" and replace it with a "prime philosophy" of motivational goals and desires (Galassi, & Akos, 2007). The therapeutic goal of REBT is not only the noise image is determined, but it is to help clients, one to as happy and independent life lead in social responsibility.

Three REBT Insights

Beliefs, not events, cause disturbance. We remain disturbed by adhering to irrational beliefs.

We keep re-indoctrinating ourselves w/ these beliefs thereby perpetuating our disturbance

It will take hard work to revamp/restructure our misery-producing ...