Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
- LAST REVIEWED: 09 May 2017
- LAST MODIFIED: 30 January 2014
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0147
- LAST REVIEWED: 09 May 2017
- LAST MODIFIED: 30 January 2014
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0147
Introduction
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is the first form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and was created by Albert Ellis. REBT theory is based on the ABC model, where A stands for activating events, B for beliefs, and C for various psychological outcomes. Based on REBT, psychological outcomes are not generated by A (the activating events), but by how one cognitively processes them. Rational beliefs refer to beliefs that have logical, empirical, and/or pragmatic support; in interaction with various A, they produce functional psychological consequences. Irrational beliefs refer to beliefs that do not have logical, empirical, and/or pragmatic support; in interaction with A, they generate dysfunctional psychological consequences. REBT theory is a motivational theory, part of the appraisal paradigm. Our desires/goals can be formulated rationally and/or irrationally. Some people formulate their desires/goals rigidly (e.g., “I must be loved by my wife and cannot accept if this does not happen”), with demandingness/DEM as a primary irrational appraisal. When DEM is not confirmed by A, secondary irrational appraisal mechanisms follow: (1) frustration intolerance/FI (e.g., “I cannot stand if what I think should happen doesn’t happen”); (2) awfulizing/catastrophizing/AWF (e.g., “It is awful if what I think should happen doesn’t happen”); and (3) global evaluation in the form of self-downing (e.g., GE/SD: “I am worthless if my wife does not love me as she should”), other downing (e.g., GE/OD: “My wife is damnable because she does not love me as she should”), and/or life downing (e.g., GE/LD: “Life is totally bad if my wife does not love me as she should”). The combination of primary and secondary irrational appraisals generates dysfunctional negative feelings, maladaptive behaviors, and/or unhealthy psychophysiological reactions. If DEM is confirmed by A, we experience dysfunctional positive feelings. Other people formulate their desires/goals flexibly, involving motivational relevance, flexibility, and acceptance (e.g., “I want to be loved by my wife, but this does not have to happen, and I am doing my best to be loved, but I accept that sometimes things do not happen the way I want them to happen”). When this flexible belief (i.e., preference/PRE) is not confirmed by A, secondary rational appraisal mechanisms follow: (1) frustration tolerance (e.g., FT: “I can stand if what I think should happen doesn’t happen even though it is a struggle for me to do so and I can still enjoy other things”); (2) non-awfulizing/nuanced evaluation of badness (e.g., BAD: “It is bad if what I think should happen doesn’t happen, but it is not awful and I can still try to enjoy other things”); and (3) unconditional acceptance in the form of self-acceptance (e.g., USA: “I accept myself unconditionally even if my wife does not love me”), other-acceptance (e.g., UOA: “I accept my wife as a human being even if she does not love me”), and/or life-acceptance (ULA: “Life is not totally bad if my wife does not love me”). The combination of primary and secondary rational appraisal mechanisms generates functional negative feelings, adaptive behaviors, and healthy psychophysiological reactions. If PRE are confirmed by A, we experience functional positive feelings. Once generated by the ABC process, a C (e.g., primary anxiety) can become a new A’ and thus a new ABC cycle begins, where B (e.g., “It is awful to be anxious”) represents meta-beliefs and C (i.e., anxiety about anxiety) represents secondary emotions/meta-emotions.
General Overviews
Ellis 1957 is a fundamental article in which the author set the foundation for what he called rational therapy (RT) (see also Ellis 1958). Then, Ellis’s seminal book Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy (Ellis 1962) legitimized the cognitive paradigm shift in the clinical field. Indeed, Albert Ellis is generally considered one of the main originators of the “cognitive revolution” in clinical psychology, paralleling and contributing to the cognitive revolution in psychology in general. Indeed, as a recognition of the role that Albert Ellis played in the cognitive revolution in psychology, the American Psychological Association awarded him both the Distinguish Professional Contribution to Psychology Award (1985) and the Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology Award (2013). In 1961 Ellis changed the name of RT into rational-emotive therapy (RET), to avoid criticism claiming that RT is “too rational,” and to reflect the new conceptualization of emotions outlined in this therapy (see Ellis 1962). In 1993 Ellis changed the name of RET into rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), to acknowledge the role of behavioral techniques and homework assignments in the therapy (see Ellis 1993), thus emphasizing the multimodal aspect of REBT practice. A last updated work on REBT by Ellis can be found in Ellis and Ellis 2011. Several recent key publications have updated REBT theory (David, et al. 2010) and practice (DiGiuseppe, et al. 2013) in the context of modern psychological research (see also David 2013 and David, et al. 2005).
David, D. 2013. Rational emotive behavior therapy in the context of modern psychological research. New York: Albert Ellis Institute.
This study synthetically presents REBT theory and practice in the context of modern psychological research. It also frames the structure of the present REBT bibliography.
David, D., S. J. Lynn, and A. Ellis, eds. 2010. Rational and irrational beliefs in human functioning and disturbances; Implication for research, theory, and practice. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.
This book offers an up-to-date comprehensive critical review and analysis of REBT theory. It also frames the structure of the present REBT bibliography.
David, D., A. Szentagotai, E. Kallay, and B. Macavei. 2005. A synopsis of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT); Fundamental and applied research. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 23.3: 175–221.
DOI: 10.1007/s10942-005-0011-0E-mail Citation »
This synopsis presents a critical analysis of REBT theory and practice based on modern cognitive sciences. It also frames the structure of the present REBT bibliography.
DiGiuseppe, R., K. A. Doyle, W. Dryden, and W. Backx. 2013. A practitioner’s guide to rational-emotive therapy. 3d ed. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.
This book offers up-to-date guidelines regarding REBT practice.
Ellis, A. 1957. Rational psychotherapy and individual psychology. Journal of Individual Psychology 13:38–44.
Formulated for the first time an independent cognitive perspective in psychotherapy and clinical psychology (i.e., in the form of the ABC model), thus initiating a “cognitive revolution” in the clinical psychology/psychotherapy field. Although the term rational therapy was introduced by Ellis at various professional conferences (in 1956 at the American Psychological Convention in Chicago, for example), this is the article where this name was first published.
Ellis, A. 1958. Rational psychotherapy. Journal of General Psychology 59:35–49.
DOI: 10.1080/00221309.1958.9710170E-mail Citation »
This article further detailed the new development in psychotherapy, namely rational therapy.
Ellis, A. 1962. Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.
This seminal book legitimized the cognitive paradigm shift in the clinical field (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling, psychotherapy). As relating to the “cognitive revolution” in the clinical field, the book played the role that Ulrich Neisser’s book Cognitive Psychology played for the “cognitive revolution” in psychology. The second edition was published in 1994. Although the name of rational-emotive therapy was presented by Ellis at various professional conferences, this is the book in which the name was first published.
Ellis, A. 1993. Changing rational-emotive therapy (RET) to rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Behavior Therapist 16:257–258.
In this article Ellis argued why the name rational-emotive therapy was changed into rational emotive behavior therapy.
Ellis, A., and J. D. Ellis. 2011. Rational emotive behavior therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
This is a last updated work of Albert Ellis regarding REBT.
Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on this page. Please subscribe or login.
How to Subscribe
Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here.
Article
- Abnormal Psychology
- Academic Assessment
- Acculturation and Health
- Action Regulation Theory
- Action Research
- Addictive Behavior
- Adolescence
- Adoption, Social, Psychological, and Evolutionary Perspect...
- Adulthood
- Affective Forecasting
- Ageism
- Ageism at Work
- Aggression
- Allport, Gordon
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA)
- Anger
- Animal Behavior
- Animal Learning
- Anxiety Disorders
- Art and Aesthetics, Psychology of
- Attachment in Social and Emotional Development across the ...
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Childre...
- Attitudes
- Attitudinal Ambivalence
- Attraction in Close Relationships
- Attribution Theory
- Authoritarian Personality
- Autism
- Behavior Therapy, Rational Emotive
- Behavioral Economics
- Behavioral Genetics
- Belief Perseverance
- Bereavement and Grief
- Biological Psychology
- Birth Order
- Body Image in Men and Women
- Burnout
- Bystander Effect
- Childhood and Adolescence, Peer Victimization and Bullying...
- Clinical Neuropsychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Consistency Theories
- Cognitive Dissonance Theory
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Communication, Nonverbal Cues and
- Comparative Psychology
- Competency to Stand Trial
- Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience
- Consciousness
- Coping Processes
- Counseling Psychology
- Courage
- Creativity
- Creativity at Work
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
- Daily Life, Research Methods for Studying
- Data Science Methods for Psychology
- Death and Dying
- Deceiving and Detecting Deceit
- Defensive Processes
- Depression
- Depressive Disorders
- Development, Prenatal
- Developmental Psychology (Cognitive)
- Developmental Psychology (Social)
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM...
- Discrimination
- Disgust
- Dissociative Disorders
- Drugs and Behavior
- Eating Disorders
- Ecological Psychology
- Educational Settings, Assessment of Thinking in
- Effect Size
- Embodiment and Embodied Cognition
- Emerging Adulthood
- Emotion
- Emotional Intelligence
- Empathy and Altruism
- Environmental Neuroscience and Environmental Psychology
- Ethics in Psychological Practice
- Event Perception
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Expansive Posture
- Experimental Existential Psychology
- Exploratory Data Analysis
- Eyewitness Testimony
- Eysenck, Hans
- Factor Analysis
- Festinger, Leon
- Five-Factor Model of Personality
- Flynn Effect, The
- Forensic Psychology
- Forgiveness
- Friendships, Children's
- Fundamental Attribution Error/Correspondence Bias
- Gambler's Fallacy
- Game Theory and Psychology
- Geropsychology, Clinical
- Habit Formation and Behavior Change
- Happiness
- Health Psychology
- Health Psychology Research and Practice, Measurement in
- Heider, Fritz
- Heuristics and Biases
- History of Psychology
- Human Factors
- Humanistic Psychology
- Humor
- Hypnosis
- Implicit Association Test (IAT)
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Inferential Statistics in Psychology
- Intelligence
- Intelligence, Crystallized and Fluid
- Intercultural Psychology
- Intergroup Conflict
- International Classification of Diseases and Related Healt...
- International Psychology
- Interviewing in Forensic Settings
- Intimate Partner Violence, Psychological Perspectives on
- Item Response Theory
- Language
- Laughter
- Law, Psychology and
- Leadership
- Learned Helplessness
- Learning Theory
- Learning versus Performance
- LGBTQ+ Romantic Relationships
- Lie Detection in a Forensic Context
- Life-Span Development
- Locus of Control
- Loneliness and Health
- Mathematical Psychology
- Meaning in Life
- Mechanisms and Processes of Peer Contagion
- Media Violence, Psychological Perspectives on
- Mediation Analysis
- Meditation
- Memories, Autobiographical
- Memories, Flashbulb
- Memories, Repressed and Recovered
- Memory, False
- Memory, Human
- Memory, Implicit versus Explicit
- Memory in Educational Settings
- Memory, Semantic
- Meta-Analysis
- Metacognition
- Metamemory
- Metaphor, Psychological Perspectives on
- Mindfulness
- Mindfulness and Education
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- Money, Psychology of
- Moral Development
- Moral Psychology
- Moral Reasoning
- Motivation
- Music
- Narcissism
- Narrative
- Neuroscience of Associative Learning
- Nonparametric Statistical Analysis in Psychology
- Obsessive-Complusive Disorder (OCD)
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Operant Conditioning
- Optimism and Pessimism
- Organizational Justice
- Parenting Stress
- Path Models
- Peace Psychology
- Perception
- Perception, Person
- Performance Appraisal
- Personality and Health
- Personality Disorders
- Personality Psychology
- Phenomenological Psychology
- Placebo Effects in Psychology
- Play Behavior
- Positive Psychological Capital (PsyCap)
- Positive Psychology
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Prejudice and Stereotyping
- Prisoner's Dilemma
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Procrastination
- Prosocial Behavior
- Prosocial Spending and Well-Being
- Protocol Analysis
- Psycholinguistics
- Psychology, Political
- Psychophysics, Visual
- Psychotherapy
- Psychotic Disorders
- Race
- Reasoning, Counterfactual
- Rehabilitation Psychology
- Relationships
- Religion, Psychology and
- Replication Initiatives in Psychology
- Research Methods
- Resilience
- Risk Taking
- Rumination
- Savoring
- Schizophrenic Disorders
- School Psychology
- School Psychology, Counseling Services in
- Self, Gender and
- Self, Psychology of the
- Self-Construal
- Self-Control
- Self-Deception
- Self-Determination Theory
- Self-Efficacy
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Monitoring
- Self-Regulation in Educational Settings
- Sensation Seeking
- Sex and Gender
- Sexual Minority Parenting
- Sexual Orientation
- Signal Detection Theory and its Applications
- Single People
- Single-Case Experimental Designs
- Skinner, B.F.
- Sleep and Dreaming
- Small Groups
- Social Class and Social Status
- Social Cognition
- Social Neuroscience
- Social Support
- Social Touch and Massage Therapy Research
- Somatoform Disorders
- Spatial Attention
- Sports Psychology
- Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE): Icon and Controversy
- Stereotype Threat
- Stereotypes
- Stress and Coping, Psychology of
- Student Success in College
- Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis
- Suicide
- Taste, Psychological Perspectives on
- Teaching of Psychology
- Terror Management Theory
- Testing and Assessment
- The Reasoned Action Approach and the Theories of Reasoned ...
- Theory of Mind
- Therapies, Person-Centered
- Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral
- Thinking Skills in Educational Settings
- Time Perception
- Trait Perspective
- Trauma Psychology
- Twin Studies
- Type A Behavior Pattern (Coronary Prone Personality)
- Unconscious Processes
- Virtues and Character Strengths
- Wisdom
- Women and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM...
- Women, Psychology of
- Work Well-Being