Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

cognitive-behavioral approach
A treatment approach that incorpo-
rates basic principles of learning to 
change the way people think.
rational-emotive behavior therapy
A form of therapy that attempts to 
restructure a person’s belief system 
into a more realistic, rational, and 
logical set of views by challenging 
dysfunctional beliefs that maintain 
irrational behavior.
Negative 
A 
A
ctivating condition 
(Close relationship 
breaks up) 
Irrational 
B 
B
elief system 
(“I’ll never be loved 
again”) 
Emotional 
C 
C
onsequences 
(Anxiety, loneliness,
sadness, depression)
FIGURE 4 
In the A-B-C model of rational-emotive behavior therapy, negative activating 
conditions (A) lead to the activation of an irrational belief system (B), which leads to 
emotional consequences (C). Those emotional consequences then feed back and support the 
belief system. At what steps in the model could change occur as a result of rational-emotive 
behavior therapy?
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554 Chapter 
16 
Treatment of Psychological Disorders
Martha: I was brought up to think that I mustn’t be selfi sh. 
Therapist: Oh, we’ll have to knock that out of your head! 
Martha: My mother feels that I shouldn’t have left home—that my place is 
with them. There are nagging doubts about what I should— 
Therapist: Why are there doubts? Why should you? 
Martha: I think it’s a feeling I was brought up with that you always have to 
give of yourself. If you think of yourself, you’re wrong. 
Therapist: That’s a belief. Why do you have to keep believing that—at your 
age? You believed a lot of superstitions when you were younger. Why do 
you have to retain them? Your parents indoctrinated you with this non-
sense, because that’s their belief. . . . Who needs that philosophy? All it’s 
gotten you, so far, is guilt. (Ellis, 1974, pp. 223–286) 
By poking holes in Martha’s reasoning, the therapist is attempting to help her 
adopt a more realistic view of herself and her circumstances (Ellis, 2002; Dryden & 
David, 2008). 
Another infl uential form of therapy that builds on a cognitive perspective is that 
of Aaron Beck (Beck, 1995, 2004). Like rational-emotive behavior therapy, Beck’s 
cognitive therapy aims to change people’s illogical thoughts about themselves and 
the world. 
However, cognitive therapy is considerably less confrontational and challenging 
than rational-emotive behavior therapy. Instead of the therapist actively arguing 
with clients about their dysfunctional cognitions, cognitive therapists more often 
play the role of teacher. Therapists urge clients to obtain information on their own 
that will lead them to discard their inaccurate thinking through a process of cogni-
tive appraisal. In cognitive appraisal , clients are asked to evaluate situations, them-
selves, and others in terms of their memories, values, beliefs, thoughts, and 
expectations. During the course of treatment, therapists help clients discover ways 
of thinking more appropriately about themselves and others (Rosen, 2000; Beck, 
Freeman, & Davis, 2004; Moorey, 2007).