ABC Theory
A- activating event
B- belief system
C- consequence
A is not the actual event that causes C, it is B that mainly creates C
3 basic musts
- I must do well and win the approval of others for my performances or else I am not good (anxiety)
- Other people must treat me fairly and exactly the way I want them to treat me and if they don’t they deserve a punishment (rage)
- I must get what I want, when I want it and I can’t stand it when I don’t (self-pity)
Main goal
Help people change their irrational beliefs into rational beliefs. This is accomplished by disputing, the “D” of the ABC model.
REBT helps group members to…
- Develop unconditional self-acceptance
- Develop unconditional other-acceptance
- Develop unconditional life-acceptance
Unconditional self-acceptance
I have my good points and bad points
There is no reason why I must not have flaws
I am no more or less worthy than anyone else
Disputing
- Detecting irrational beliefs & seeing they are unrealistic
- Debating irrational beliefs and showing how they are unsupported by evidence
- Discriminating between irrational and rational thinking
Effect
The “E” of ABC model
The acquisition of effective new beliefs, greater acceptance of oneself, of others and the frustrations of everyday life.
Unconditional other-acceptance
Other people will treat me unfairly sometimes
There is no reason why they must treat me fairly
These people are no more or less worthy
Unconditional life-acceptance
Life doesn’t always work out the way I’d like
There is no reason why it needs to go my way
Life is bearable
Role & functions of group leader
- Show members how they have created their own emotional & behavioral disturbances -confrontation
- Teach members how to challenge their assumptions & how to stop vicious circle of self-rating & other-blaming process
- Teach members how to avoid becoming victims of future irrational beliefs
- Play a directive role to get members to commit to practicing solutions
- Give members homework on how to apply ABC model in daily problems
- Use techniques
Techniques used
- Unconditional acceptance
- Rational emotive imagery
- Use of humor
- Shame-attacking exercises
- Rational emotive role playing
Advantages
- Homework assignments much more effective in group setting than individual
- Active/directiveness more effective in group
- Behavior in active role plays can be actively observed more than individual
- Bounce off others solutions to possibly use for yourself
- Shows that treatment can be effective & that people can change
- Shows that consequences are not as severe as they thought
Limitations
- Too confrontative & persuasive stance with possibility of imposing leader’s values on members
- Active/directive therapy can result in excessive amounts of power & disrupt collaborative client-therapist relationship
- Easy to practice poorly because the skills of leader are critical
- Leader may get carried away with their own motivations
