Human Development and Emotional Health
The dimensions of psychological health are as follows:
Self-acceptance is a very important aspect in REBT. REBT suggests that emotional difficulties are often found in people with conditional self-acceptance. Individuals value themselves because of their accomplishments rather than because of their basic worth as a person.
According to Ellis, people should have a realistic sense of their strengths and weaknesses and take pride in their achievements. When people experience failures or disappointments, they tend to rate themselves harshly and their self-esteem plummets as a result (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). People will be feel happier and more stable if they accept, value, and believe in themselves even when they are disappointed in their behaviors (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Origins of Emotional Disturbance REBT says that irrational thinking is so widespread, people must have a strong biological tendency to think dysfunctionally and believe that life should go their way. REBT also acknowledges that negative childhood experiences may contribute to a person's tendency to think and act in unhealthy ways (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). REBT emphasizes will and choice and perceives people as having inborn drives toward actualization and happiness. REBT perceives people as able to exercise choice, to see that their thoughts are responsible for disturbing them, and to actively and continually work toward positive change and fulfillment (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
According to Ellis, people should have a realistic sense of their strengths and weaknesses and take pride in their achievements. When people experience failures or disappointments, they tend to rate themselves harshly and their self-esteem plummets as a result (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). People will be feel happier and more stable if they accept, value, and believe in themselves even when they are disappointed in their behaviors (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Origins of Emotional Disturbance REBT says that irrational thinking is so widespread, people must have a strong biological tendency to think dysfunctionally and believe that life should go their way. REBT also acknowledges that negative childhood experiences may contribute to a person's tendency to think and act in unhealthy ways (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). REBT emphasizes will and choice and perceives people as having inborn drives toward actualization and happiness. REBT perceives people as able to exercise choice, to see that their thoughts are responsible for disturbing them, and to actively and continually work toward positive change and fulfillment (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Secular Humanism
Secular humanists view people as unique individuals who usually value and choose to live in interdependent social groups. People are neither good nor bad, but they are simply human. Secular humanists adopt a philosophy of secular humanism typically concerned with social systems and advocate peace, fairness, and democracy. They seek possibilities and alternatives rather than absolute truths (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Thoughts as the Route to Change
Change only occurs when people recognize and accept that they are largely responsible for creating their own emotional problems (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). REBT maintains that emotional problems stem primarily from irrational beliefs. Rational emotive behavior therapists have found that through hard work and practice people can change their absolute and irrational beliefs and correspondingly alleviate their emotional difficulties (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Focus on Present Thoughts - REBT focuses on present thoughts and discourage spending a substantial amount of time on past events. Theorists believe that it is more important to have a present-oriented focus, it is more likely to enhance rapport, and keeps with the thinking the idea that people's current thoughts and behaviors maintain their self-defeating thoughts, whatever the origins of those thoughts (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
REBT's View of Insight - REBT views gaining insight as potentially harmful and could lead to self-blame and immobilization. Ellis thought that gaining insight into the principles of REBT was important for people to make the necessary changes.
REBT's View of Emotions - Ellis differentiated between inappropriate/self-destructive emotions and appropriate/nondefeating emotions. Self-destructive emotions are enduring, immobilizing, and nonproductive. They reflect overreactions to stimuli and lead to negative self-images. Appropriate emotions are transient, manageable, in proportion to the stimulus, and enhancing self-acceptance. They include positive emotions like joy and peacefulness and negative emotions like annoyance and regret.
REBT's View of Behavior - behaviors are a secondary form of treatment that provide a measure of progress, are used to modify and reinforce thoughts, and are a prime target of homework assignments (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Focus on Present Thoughts - REBT focuses on present thoughts and discourage spending a substantial amount of time on past events. Theorists believe that it is more important to have a present-oriented focus, it is more likely to enhance rapport, and keeps with the thinking the idea that people's current thoughts and behaviors maintain their self-defeating thoughts, whatever the origins of those thoughts (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
REBT's View of Insight - REBT views gaining insight as potentially harmful and could lead to self-blame and immobilization. Ellis thought that gaining insight into the principles of REBT was important for people to make the necessary changes.
REBT's View of Emotions - Ellis differentiated between inappropriate/self-destructive emotions and appropriate/nondefeating emotions. Self-destructive emotions are enduring, immobilizing, and nonproductive. They reflect overreactions to stimuli and lead to negative self-images. Appropriate emotions are transient, manageable, in proportion to the stimulus, and enhancing self-acceptance. They include positive emotions like joy and peacefulness and negative emotions like annoyance and regret.
REBT's View of Behavior - behaviors are a secondary form of treatment that provide a measure of progress, are used to modify and reinforce thoughts, and are a prime target of homework assignments (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).
Irrational Beliefs
Irrational beliefs are characterized by one of the following themes: awfulizing, self-deprecation, and frustration intolerance. REBT identifies thoughts as either rational or irrational. Rational beliefs are logical, pragmatic, based in reality, flexible and not extreme. Irrational beliefs often include works like should, ought, or must and may include immediate demands about the self, others, and the world (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014).