The REBT Theory of Personality and Change - Ellis & MacLaren - 2005 - Article

REBT has different specific theories of how people become disturbed and what can be done to reduce their disturbance. The theories overlap, but there are also some important differences, which are described.

What is this article about?

REBT has different specific theories of how people become disturbed and what can be done to reduce their disturbance. The theories overlap, but there are also some important differences, which are described.

How  do people become disturbed?

REBT states that people are disturbed cognitively, emotionally, and behaviourally. It is assumed that all humans are somewhat disturbed, but there are different degrees and kinds of dysfunction.

In anxiety, depression, and rage, there are disturbed cognitions (irrational beliefs). These irrational beliefs affect emotional and behavioural dysfunctions. Changing these can result in changes in emotion or behavior. Sometimes irrational beliefs are quickly identified, while at other times it takes more time, effort, and persistence.

REBT emphasizes philosophical methods. During sessions, clients are taught the ABC’s of human disturbance: how can they change B (belief system) and also the C (consequences)?

People can become distressed when they have goals and purposes (G) and when there are adversities (A) in reaching these goals. They can act with healthy negative feelings (sorrow, regret, frustration), and also with unhealthy negative feelings (panic, depression, rage). At first, many clients do not believe that they are responsible for their actions. This is common, a lot of people engage in this kind of thinking. Therefore, it is important to let your client understand that, every time that he or she is feeling some kind of way, that he or she chooses to. This also means that he or she can choose to feel differently.

According to the ABC theory of disturbance, people have negative emotions, irrational beliefs (IBs), and also several core IBs in addition to their Rational Beliefs. These IBs include:

1. Absolutistic musts and should – ‘I must not be falsely accused’.
2. Awfulizing – ‘It is awful to be falsely accused’.
3. I-can’t-stand-it: This is called low frustration tolerance or discomfort disturbance.
4. Damming oneself and others – ‘I am a rotten person’.

These core IBs interact with each other. In REBT, clients are provided insights into how the ABC’s of human disturbance work. Using the principles of REBT, they can be helped to minimize almost any kind of anxiety, depression, and rage.

What is Active-Directive REBT?

Some clients or ‘disturbed people’ really want to change their dysfunctional feelings and behaviors. However, sometimes this happens very slowly. There are different reasons for this. When their reason is that they resist therapy, then it is best to switch from passive methods to active-directive methods. This means that determining what their main reasons are for resisting, whether these are good reasons, and how to overcome these. Active-directive therapy makes the therapy more effective, and less expensive. Many good therapeutic methods, such as exposure are taught directively. Directiveness emphasizes self-efficacy, which provides the client confidence that he or she can accomplish many things. Furthermore, it is especially helpful for clients who have some type of personality disorder and who need the therapist’s directivity. However, all good things can also have disadvantages. Active-directiveness may interfere with the client’s proactive tendencies to solve their own problems and to actualize themselves. A therapist may take on too much responsibility and power, and this may then interfere with a collaborative and cooperative client-therapist relationship. As a REBT and CBT practitioner, you have a choice about how active-directive you want to be.

What can be concluded?

People become disturbed because of their biological tendencies, environmental conditions, and social conditions. REBT focuses on changing the cognitive elements of disturbance because changing a core irrational belief can lead to changes in emotions and behaviour.

In the ‘ABC’ model of REBT, A stands for ‘activating an event / adversity’. This refers to situations, persons, and thoughts. The ‘B’ stands for belief about ‘A’, so how did someone interpret the event? Then, the ‘C’ stands for the consequences: these can be emotional and or behavioural to A.

Beliefs can be rational and irrational. Rational beliefs (RBs) are flexible, adaptive, and consistent with social reality. These beliefs are useful. Irrational beliefs (IBs) are rigid, and inconsistent with social reality. These irrational beliefs often hold people back from achieving their goals.

The REBT does not only help to make a client feel better in his or her current situation, it also helps the client to get better by using the principles taught in future situations.

Lastly, an active-directive approach to therapy helps to make therapy more brief. It involves ‘teaching’ opportunities and can provide extra motivation to push the client forward.