RATIONAL-
EMOTIVE THEORY
BY NASSIMBWA MARIAM
2018/BS/064
23RD APRIL 2021
DEFINITION
• Rational emotive theory known as the rational emotive behavioral theory(REBT)
explains stress as the way a person perceives, interprets and evaluates environmental
and other kinds of stressors.
• It is a creation of ALBERT ELLIS 1950s
• REBT shows clients how to identify and uproot their stress creating Irrational
Beliefs(IBs) by disputing them by means of a variety of cognitive, emotive and
behavioral techniques and by replacing these IBs with more rational alternative
beliefs leading to healthier emotions and constructive behaviors.
• The cornerstone of REBT is that our behavior and feelings are largely determined by
the way we think, and that thinking, feeling, and behaving are inter-related.
Difference between rationality and irrationality.
• Rationality means that which helps • Irrationality is defined as;
people to achieve their particular
That which prevents people from
goals and purposes.
achieving their basic goals and
• It involves 3 major criteria; purposes.
Pragmatic Is illogical
Logical Empirically inconsistent with reality.
Empirically consistent with reality.
THE ABC MODEL OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE.
• A- Unpleasant activating event.(it may lie in the clients present, past or the
anticipated future).
• B- Beliefs
I. Rational beliefs; flexible beliefs that take the form of wishes, wants, desires
and preferences.
non-extreme evaluation of badness
Show evidence of toleration
Demonstrate flexible thinking towards the occurrence of events.
II. Irrational belief is rigid
• Clients are always and never thinking.
• Awfulization
• Low tolerance (I -cant -stand- it).
• Damnation(excessively critical of themselves).
• C- Emotional and behavioral consequences of the clients beliefs about A.
• Example; A- Your employer falsely accuses you of taking money from her purse.
• B-
• C-
IMPLICATIONS OF REBT IN SCHOOLS.
• If we teach children how to think rationally, they will approach both developmental
and situational challenges in a healthier manner, which in turn will decrease the
proliferation of self defeating behaviors that far too many young people succumb to.
• Professionals (teachers) need to continually challenge their own irrational thinking,
getting rid of their demands that their students must always behave perfectly.
• Must stop making overgeneralizations about student behavior or performance.
• Refrain from equating their self worth with their performance as a teacher.
STRENGTHS/ADVANTAGES
• It educates and encourages individuals to adapt their way of thinking long term
for a positive and healthy emotion health.
• The results can be seen in relatively quicker manner compared to other
approaches because emphasis is put on the present.
• It can be used for self manage.
• It is direct and relies much on empiricism which teenagers wouldn’t feel like
they are in a counselling session.
LIMITATIONS OF REBT
• The effectiveness of REBT is primarily dependent of the patients commitment to the
therapy as it is not a quick fix and doesn’t take into account external life factors such
as the individuals living conditions or friendship groups, as these influences may
contribute to the underlying issues.
• It is not sufficient with every client.
• If a client is not motivated that they will have a positive outcome then there is a high
probability of having a negative outcome.
• It focuses on perception and belief which may have been reinforced from the clients
religious and cultural background and beliefs stemming back to their early
childhood.(meaning one has to have knowledge about ones cultural background).
LIMITATIONS CONT’D
• When working in schools, REBT can be very difficult because often times
students lack the emotional or cognitive levels needed for this to be successful.
THE END
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
