CPSY 218: REBT Personal Theory Paper - Values, Personality, Therapy

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). It begins by exploring the author's personal values and beliefs, connecting them to the core principles of REBT. The paper then delves into the theory of personality, drawing connections to the ABC model and the influence of biological and social factors. The discussion extends to psychopathology, explaining how individuals develop emotional disturbances based on their beliefs. The goals of REBT therapy are outlined, emphasizing the process of disputing irrational beliefs and promoting a happier life. The paper also addresses limitations, including multicultural considerations and the active engagement required from clients. The essay concludes by summarizing the key concepts of REBT, highlighting the importance of cognitive restructuring and behavioral change in achieving psychological well-being. The essay uses the student's perspective throughout the discussion.

Running head: RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THEORY (REBT)
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THEORY (REBT)
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR THEORY (REBT)
Introduction:
With the growing prevalence of mental health issues, psychotherapy has gained
increased attention in the field of psychology. Therefore, in the recent era, the cognitive
behavioural approach has predominant where self-talk, guided imaginary, goal setting have been
proved to be effective in altering mental health issues. However, individuals often experience a
self-defeating thought process and feeling that shape the personality. Rational emotive behaviour
theory (REBT) is one such therapy that is used in rational emotive behaviour therapy to assist
individuals in altering these thought process with the positive thought process (Wood, Turner &
Barker, 2019). Therefore, this theory has been chosen for this essay to discuss personal values
and beliefs. This paper aims to provide values and beliefs, theory of the personality,
psychopathology, the goal of therapy and limitations and summary of the theory in the following
paragraphs.

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1. Values and beliefs:
Human nature is unique and individuals have a range of erroneous beliefs, self-defeating
feelings that impact their personality and purpose of living a healthy life. Considering my point
of view, in my belief, human nature is a mixture of angles and demons. I believe that childhood
environment, parental practice and social surroundings have a direct impact on the individuals.
Therefore, some individuals are evil due to the environmental setting in the childhood that
influences the thought process followed by activities. Therefore, this theory has been chosen as
the foundation of the psychotherapy to alter irrational beliefs, self-defeating and erroneous
thought process and replace them with healthy beliefs. However, cultural identities and biases
have influenced the values and beliefs. A person’s understanding of their own cultural identity
developed from the childhood setting and it is predominantly shaped by the values and beliefs
prevalent in the home setting. In this context, it can be said from the childhood, my beliefs and
values are shaped by the home setting where human nature is considered a mixture of positive
and negative characters. The disrupted balance between positive and negative thought process
leads to evil actions. This potentially influenced my thought process which contradicts the theory
since theory suggested that individuals have innate tendency to react to certain pattern
irrespective of the social factors. In other words, severe mental disturbance and irrational
thoughts are partly inherited and have strong biological components. Therefore, my cultural
identities and biases influence the values and belief similar to any other human being.

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2. Theory of personality:
According to Freud's personality theory, the structure of the human mind is complex
and composed of three layers such as id, ego and superego. The id is considered as a primitive
component of personality and it consists of all biological components individuals inherited
during birth. It is impulsive and responds directly to basic urges and needs. The ego is the
second layer which is part of id and modified by external influence (Ziegler, 2016). The
superego is the third part which incorporate the values and morals of the society which were
acquired from the parents. The theorist Ellis identified these factors that contributed to an
individual personality and drive their action (Sharf, 2016). The motivation for the action comes
from the balance of these three factors. For example, the theorist suggested that some individuals
have inherited tendency to respond to events in a certain pattern and these factors are influenced
by the interpersonal relationship between family, peer and school (social factors) (Sharf, 2016).
It can be explained by ABC theory of personality where A stands for activating events or
adversity, B belief about the event, C Stands for emotional behaviour response, D stands for
disputation and E stands new effect and behaviour. Therefore, these beliefs drive the responses to
certain events and to alter the events, D and E frameworks are used (Ziegler, 2016). The goals
of REBT stress the use as well as E adoption of the A-B-C theory of personality. The A-B-C
assessment typically incorporated from the beginning of the leading session that continues
throughout therapy. The A-B-C theory of personality works well and, for majority of the
individuals, the theory goes unnoticed when the triggering events are pleasant for the individuals.
Therefore, the emphasis on cognition has its backgrounds in other psychotherapy, which has a
strong focus on individuals’ beliefs. The theorist believed that individuals mainly become upset
because of their belief systems. The underlying reason is not the unpleasant event that was

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experienced by individuals rather individuals can become disturbed about the consequences
resulting from an unfortunate activating event. The theorist also suggested that there are a range
of interactions observed among A, B, and C of the ABC personality theory (Sharf, 2016).
Activating events, beliefs of the individuals as well as consequences each have diverse
components that include emotional, behavioural, or cognitive. Furthermore, each of these (A, B,
and C) can influence and interact with each other (Sharf, 2016). While essential approach for the
therapy rational emotive behaviour therapy is to dispute irrational thoughts with the assistance of
ABC of personality theory; many other cognitive, emotive as well as behavioural approaches are
taken into consideration in order to bring change the changes in the thought process and meet
the clients’ goals of living a happy and purposeful life (Sharf, 2016).
3. Psychopathology:
Depending on the biological as well as social factors, individuals become vulnerable to
psychological disturbance. The combination of biological and social degree influence the belief
system of the individuals. According to the theory, individuals have both innate rational and
irrational tendencies and construct emotional difficulties for themselves in the form of self-
blame, anxiety, self-pity and depression (Sharf, 2016). When an individual believes something
must happen as they wish based on the social and biological contributing factors. Emotional
disturbance occurs when the opposite event of the belief occurs. This is particularly true for the
situation when individuals have a low tolerance for frustration. When activating events are
pleasant and support the goal of the individuals, they experience high emotional satisfaction.
Emotional disturbance occurs when activating events no longer support the goal and belief,
irrational thought process observed amongst the population which resulted in the disturbance of
the thought. The emotional disturbance resulted in self-doubt, worthlessness and anxiety (Sharf,

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2016). . In this context, the rational emotive behaviour therapy applies to cognitive, emotive and
behavioural approaches to the changing irrational beliefs (Sharf, 2016). The prime process of
working with patient involve disputing such as detecting, discriminating and debating irrational
beliefs. The stronger focuses are given on the ABC of the development of irrational belief of the
patient
4. Goals of Therapy:
The purpose of the therapy is to assist individuals in reducing their emotional
disturbance, decreasing self-defeating as well as self-doubting behaviours and providing a
healthy and happy life by assisting them in becoming more self-actualized. Therefore, it can lead
to a happier existence. On the other hand, the major subgoals of the therapy is to assist
individuals to think more rationally, act more efficiently. Consequently, individuals learn to deal
with unhealthy negative patterns such as guilt, depression and anxiety (Sharf, 2016). The
therapy works when therapy uses a wide variety of the assessment procedure with the assistance
of ABC theory of personality and the majority of the cases the assessment include activating
events, irrational beliefs, social problem-solving events, the reason for maintaining symptoms
(Sharf, 2016). The therapist listens to the client and therapeutic relationship built between
therapist and client when the therapist assists to resolve the immediate problem. After that, the
therapist usually explains and make explicit regarding three aspects such as ABC (Sharf, 2016).
During Disputation, therapist detects irrational beliefs, discriminate rational beliefs from rational
beliefs and debating irrational beliefs. While beliefs have been actively and successfully
disputed, the client will experience new events and logical philosophy. The common strategy
used by the therapist in the clinical therapy for disputing behaviour is that Socratic debate,

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creativity and self-disclosure. It reduces irrational thought process of the client and facilitates a
purposeful life.
5. Limitations:
The limitations of the therapy are the multicultural issues as irrational thought process is
highly based on the culture of the clients (Sharf, 2016). Therefore, strategies for altering the
beliefs in one culture is distinct from another culture. The behaviourist usually listens to the
cultural values and beliefs of the clients for understanding the cultural issues (Sharf, 2016).
Hence, the implication is that in order provide the best possible care to the patient, the therapist
must consider the culture of the patient. Other limitations of the therapy are that it is a harsh
process as it questions the belief system of the patient. Some of the emotional techniques for
disrupting thoughts are forceful and degrading. Therefore, patients with severe anxiety and other
critical mental illness since it leaves patients vulnerable. The patients usually become disengaged
after attending the sessions. The therapy does not work for the patients with low tolerance level
for the frustrations they subjected to. Therefore, in this case, other therapies must be provided to
the patient to reduce psychological issues (Sharf, 2016). Moreover, one of the most major
disadvantages of the therapy is that in order to receive the effectiveness of the therapy, the clients
are required to engage actively in the therapy and willing to solve the emotional problem they are
suffering from. It is often observed that rational emotive behaviour therapist instructs the client
to do homework on certain emotional beliefs. Therefore, if the client is not willing to work on
these issues during the therapy, the chances are they will not do any homework. Therefore, these
factors are required to take into consideration when involving patients in the therapy.

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6. Summary:
Rational emotive behaviour theory states that it is not the event that disrupts individuals
and leads to the emotional disturbance rather the beliefs about the events leads to the disruption.
This view of the therapy emerged as the psychotherapy approach that focuses on the cognitive
aspect of the personality as well as therapeutic interventions of the patientst. The other methods
of rational emotive behaviour therapy involve audiotapes, oneself and psychoeducational
materials (Sharf, 2016). The therapy also includes alteration of the behaviour of the client that
involves skill training, reinforcement and homework. Therefore, the therapist uses a range of
techniques to bring constructive changes in their life.

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References:
Sharf, R. S. (2016). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling. (6thEdition). Boston: Cengage
Learning.
Wood, A. G., Turner, M. J., & Barker, J. B. (2019). Bolstering psychological health using
rational emotive behaviour therapy. Mental health and well-being interventions in sport:
Research, theory and practice, 45-62.
Ziegler, D. J. (2016). Defense Mechanisms in Rational Emotive Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Personality Theory. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 34(2),
135-148.