Arrange the following in the correct sequence as per Rational Emotive Therapy:
(A) Identification of irrational belief
(B) Consequence
(C) Antecedent events are noted
(D) Refusal of irrational belief by the therapist
(E) Gradual changes in the belief system
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (C), (A), (B), (D), (E)
(C) Antecedent events are noted — first. Rational Emotive Therapy, formulated by Albert Ellis, begins with the antecedent-belief-consequence (ABC) analysis. Its first part is to note the events that caused the psychological distress.
(A) Identification of irrational belief — second. The client is interviewed to find the irrational beliefs that distort the present reality. Such beliefs are full of ‘musts’ and ‘shoulds’, for example ‘One should be loved by everybody all the time’.
(B) Consequence — third. The event seen through the irrational belief leads to the consequence, that is, negative emotions and behaviours. With this the A-B-C chain is complete: the belief stands between the event and its consequence.
(D) Refusal of irrational belief by the therapist — fourth. Once the beliefs are known, the therapist questions them gently, without probing or directing, so that the client thinks deeper into her or his own assumptions about life.
(E) Gradual changes in the belief system — fifth. Slowly the client changes her or his philosophy about life. A rational belief system replaces the irrational one, and the psychological distress comes down.
Note: Item (D) prints ‘Refusal of irrational belief’. To refuse is to say no to something. What the therapist does in RET is to refute the irrational beliefs, that is, to show through questioning that they are wrong. The step meant is the refutation of the irrational beliefs, and its place in the order does not change.
NCERT (2025-26): “Cognitive Therapy … Cognitive therapies locate the cause of psychological distress in irrational thoughts and beliefs. Albert Ellis formulated the Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). The central thesis of this therapy is that irrational beliefs mediate between the antecedent events and their consequences. The first step in RET is the antecedent-belief-consequence (ABC) analysis. Antecedent events, which caused the psychological distress, are noted. The client is also interviewed to find the irrational beliefs, which are distorting the present reality. Irrational beliefs may not be supported by empirical evidence in the environment. These beliefs are characterised by thoughts with ‘musts’ and ‘shoulds’, i.e. things ‘must’ and ‘should’ be in a particular manner. Examples of irrational beliefs are, ‘One should be loved by everybody all the time’, ‘Human misery is caused by external events over which one does not have any control’, etc. This distorted perception of the antecedent event due to the irrational belief leads to the consequence, i.e. negative emotions and behaviours. Irrational beliefs are assessed through questionnaires and interviews. In the process of RET, the irrational beliefs are refuted by the therapist through a process of non-directive questioning. The nature of questioning is gentle, without probing or being directive. The questions make the client to think deeper into her/his assumptions about life and problems. Gradually the client is able to change the irrational beliefs by making a change in her/his philosophy about life. The rational belief system replaces the irrational belief system and there is a reduction in psychological distress.…” |