Rational and Irrational Beliefs : Research, Theory, and Clinical Practice

In Rational and Irrational Beliefs: Research, Theory, and Clinical Practice , leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and other cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) share their perspectives and empirical findings on the nature of rational and irrational beliefs, the role of beliefs as mediators of functional and dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, and clinical approaches to modifying irrational beliefs, enhancing rational beliefs, and adaptive coping in the face of stressful life events. Offering a comprehensive and cohesive approach to understanding REBT/CBT and its central constructs of rational and irrational beliefs, contributors review a steadily accumulating empirical literature indicating that irrational beliefs are associated with a wide range of problems in living and that exposure to rational self-statements can decrease anxiety and other psychological symptoms, and play a valuable role in health promotion and disease prevention. Contributors also identify new frontiers of research and theory, including the link between irrational beliefs and other cognitive processes such as memory, psychophysiological responses, and evolutionary and cultural determinants of rational and irrational beliefs. A truly accessible, state-of-the-science summary of REBT/CBT research and clinical applications, Rational and Irrational Beliefs is an invaluable resource for psychotherapy practitioners of all theoretical orientations, as well as instructors, students, and academic psychologists. Contents......Page 14 Contributors......Page 18 PART I: Foundations......Page 22 1. Rational and Irrational Beliefs: A Historical and Conceptual Perspective......Page 24 2. Rationality and Rational Psychotherapy: The Heart of REBT......Page 44 3. Social and Cultural Aspects of Rational and Irrational Beliefs: A Brief Reconceptualization......Page 70 4. Rational and Irrational Beliefs from an Evolutionary Perspective......Page 84 PART II: Rational and Irrational Beliefs: Human Emotions and Behavioral Consequences......Page 94 5. The Behavioral Consequences of Irrational Beliefs......Page 96 6. Rational and Irrational Beliefs in Human Feelings and Psychophysiology......Page 120 PART III: Clinical Applications......Page 134 7. The Assessment of Rational and Irrational Beliefs......Page 136 8. Rational and Irrational Beliefs and Psychopathology......Page 170 9. Rational and Irrational Beliefs in Primary Prevention and Mental Health......Page 194 10. Rational and Irrational Beliefs: Implications for Mechanisms of Change and Practice in Psychotherapy......Page 216 11. Mindfulness and Irrational Beliefs......Page 240 PART IV: Physical Health and Pain......Page 272 12. Irrational and Rational Beliefs and Physical Health......Page 274 13. Coping and Catastrophic Thinking: The Experience and Treatment of Chronic Pain......Page 286 PART V: Judgment Errors and Popular Myths and Misconceptions......Page 310 14. Irrational Beliefs Stemming from Judgment Errors: Cognitive Limitations, Biases, and Experiential Learning......Page 312 15. The Five Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Implications for Psychotherapy......Page 334 PART VI: A Look to the Future......Page 358 16. A Summary and a New Research Agenda for Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy......Page 360 A......Page 370 B......Page 371 C......Page 372 D......Page 373 F......Page 374 I......Page 375 L......Page 376 P......Page 377 R......Page 378 S......Page 379 U......Page 380 Z......Page 381 Rational and irrational beliefs : a conceptual and historical perspective / Albert Ellis, Daniel David, and Steven Jay Lynn Rationality and rational psychotherapy : the heart of REBT / Arthur Still Social and cultural aspects of rational and irrational beliefs : a brief re-conceptualization / Daniel David and Raymond DiGiuseppe Rational and irrational beliefs from an evolutionary perspective / David Sloan Wilson Rational and irrational beliefs in human feelings and psychophysiology / Daniel David and Duncan Cramer The behavioral consequences of irrational beliefs / Aurora Szentagotai and Jason Jones The assessment of irrational and rational beliefs / Bianca Macavei and James McMahon Rational and irrational beliefs and psychopathology / Christopher M. Browne, Thomas Dowd, and Arthur Freeman Rational and irrational beliefs. Implication for clinical conceptualization and practice in psychotherapy / Daniel David, Arthur Freeman, and Raymond DiGiuseppe Mindfulness and irrational beliefs / David Mellinger Rational and irrational beliefs in primary prevention and mental health / Donald A. Caserta ... [et al.] Irrational and rational beliefs and physical health / Julie Schnur, Guy Montgomery, and Daniel David Coping and catastrophic thinking : the experience and treatment of chronic pain / Dawn M. Ehde and Mark P. Jensen Irrational beliefs stemming from judgment errors : cognitive limitations, biases, and experiential learning / John Ruscio The five great myths of popular psychology : implications for psychotherapy / Scott Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, and Barry Beyerstein A summary and a new research agenda for rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior therapy / Daniel David and Steven Jay Lynn. In Rational and Irrational Beliefs: Research, Theory, and Clinical Practice, leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and other cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) share their perspectives and empirical findings on the nature of rational and irrational beliefs, the role of beliefs as mediators of functional and dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, and clinical approaches to modifying irrational beliefs, enhancing rational beliefs, and adaptive coping in the face of stressful life events. Offering a comprehensive and cohesive approach to understanding REBT/CBT and its central constructs of rational and irrational beliefs, contributors review a steadily accumulating empirical literature indicating that irrational beliefs are associated with a wide range of problems in living and that exposure to rational self-statements can decrease anxiety and other psychological symptoms, and play a valuable role in health promotion and disease prevention. Contributors also identify new frontiers of research and theory, including the link between irrational beliefs and other cognitive processes such as memory, psychophysiological responses, and evolutionary and cultural determinants of rational and irrational beliefs.A truly accessible, state-of-the-science summary of REBT/CBT research and clinical applications, Rational and Irrational Beliefs is an invaluable resource for psychotherapy practitioners of all theoretical orientations, as well as instructors, students, and academic psychologists. ## Abstract In this book leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and other cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) share their perspectives and empirical findings on the nature of rational and irrational beliefs, the role of beliefs as mediators of functional and dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, and clinical approaches to modifying irrational beliefs, enhancing rational beliefs, and adaptive coping in the face of stressful life events. Offering a cohesive approach to understanding REBT/CBT and its central constructs of rational and irrational beliefs, contributors review a steadily accumulating empirical literature indicating that irrational beliefs are associated with a wide range of problems in living and that exposure to rational self-statements can decrease anxiety and other psychological symptoms, and play a valuable role in health promotion and disease prevention. Contributors also identify new frontiers of research and theory, including the link between irrational beliefs and other cognitive processes such as memory, psychophysiological responses, and evolutionary and cultural determinants of rational and irrational beliefs. Leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and other cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) share their perspectives and empirical findings on the nature of rational and irrational beliefs, the role of beliefs as mediators of functional and dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, and clinical approaches to modifying irrational beliefs, enhancing rational beliefs, and adaptive coping in the face of stressful life events. Reviews a steadily accumulating empirical literature indicating that irrational beliefs are associated with a wide range of problems in living and that exposure to rational self-statements can decrease anxiety and other psychological symptoms, and play a valuable role in health promotion and disease prevention. Contributors also identify new frontiers of research and theory, including the link between irrational beliefs and other cognitive processes such as memory, psychophysiological responses, and evolutionary and cultural determinants of rational and irrational beliefs. From publisher description In this work, leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) and other cognitive-behavioural therapies (CBTs) share their perspectives and empirical findings on the nature of rational and irrational beliefs