Meichenbaum introduced cognitive behavioural technique to deal with stress. It aims to :
(A) Support people in dealing with emotions
(B) Help people learn techniques of replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts
(C) Teach techniques to control physical stress
(D) Deliver self-instructions to help mould thoughts
(E) Make people aware that rational and practical thoughts are important to deal with stress
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (B), (D), (E) only
Cognitive behavioural techniques aim to inoculate people against stress. In Meichenbaum’s stress inoculation training, the essence is to replace negative and irrational thoughts with positive and rational ones; its three phases are assessment, stress reduction techniques, and application and follow-through.
(A) Support people in dealing with emotions Incorrect. Dealing with one’s emotions, by controlling or venting them, is the emotion-oriented strategy of coping. Stress inoculation works on the thoughts behind the emotions, not on the emotions themselves.
(B) Help people learn techniques of replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts Correct. This is the essence of the approach: negative and irrational thoughts are replaced with positive and rational ones.
(C) Teach techniques to control physical stress Incorrect. The bodily arousal of stress is handled by other techniques of stress management, such as relaxation techniques and exercise. Relaxation is learnt in one phase of stress inoculation only as a tool; the aim of this cognitive behavioural technique is to change the way the person thinks about the stressor.
(D) Deliver self-instructions to help mould thoughts Correct. The stress reduction phase involves learning techniques such as self-instruction, in which the person guides her/his own thoughts with instructions to herself/himself.
(E) Make people aware that rational and practical thoughts are important to deal with stress Correct. Replacing irrational thoughts with rational ones rests on the person seeing that rational thinking is what helps in dealing with stress.
NCERT (2025-26): “Stress Management Techniques … Cognitive Behavioural Techniques : These techniques aim to inoculate people against stress. Stress inoculation training is one effective method developed by Meichenbaum. The essence of this approach is to replace negative and irrational thoughts with positive and rational ones. There are three main phases in this : assessment, stress reduction techniques, and application and follow-through. Assessment involves discussing the nature of the problem and seeing it from the viewpoint of the person/client. Stress reduction involves learning the techniques of reducing stress such as relaxation and self-instruction.…” |