Negative automatic thoughts are characterized by which of the followi…

Cognitive therapies, such as Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) and Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy, are psychological approaches that focus on understanding and modifying dysfunctional thought patterns to alleviate psychological distress. RET, developed by Albert Ellis, emphasizes identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that contribute to emotional and behavioral problems. For example, a person experiencing excessive anxiety about public speaking may hold the irrational belief that "I must always perform perfectly, or I am a complete failure." Through RET, they would work to replace this belief with a more rational and realistic one, such as "I can make mistakes and still be competent." Similarly, Beck's Cognitive Therapy aims to identify and modify negative automatic thoughts that contribute to depression, anxiety, and other disorders. For instance, a person with depression may have automatic thoughts like "I'm worthless" or "Nothing ever goes right." Through cognitive therapy, they would learn to question and reframe these thoughts, fostering more positive and accurate thinking patterns.