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Affective and Cognitive Correlates of the Frequency of Using the Verb “to be”: An Empirical Test of E-Prime Theory

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Abstract

The current study aimed to be an empirical test of E-Prime theory regarding its alleged positive effects of eliminating the verb “to be” from speech. Therefore, we investigated the intensity and the direction of the association between the frequency of using the verb “to be” and various psychological outcomes, namely general rational and irrational beliefs, negative functional and dysfunctional emotions, the functionality of inferences, and general psychological distress. 197 participants completed measures of investigated variables. Multiple Pearson product-moment correlations were used to test our hypothesis within a cross-sectional design. The frequency of using the verb “to be” was significantly negatively associated with levels of general rational beliefs, r = − .211, p = .021, and also with levels of preference beliefs, r = − .251, p = .003. This study provides first evidence in favor of E-Prime’s assumption that a less frequent use of the verb “to be” can lead to a less rigid and non-judgmental style of thinking. The elimination of the verb “to be” from speech may prevent dogmatic or rigid thinking, thus stimulating flexibility, and in turn determine the increase of rational beliefs levels, especially the levels of preference beliefs. Possible clinical and scientific implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The funding was supported by Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2007–2013, co-financed by the European Social Fund (Grant no. POSDRU/187/1.5/S/155383- “Quality, excellence, transnational mobility in doctoral research). The study is part of the PhD thesis of the first author, Dr. Horea-Radu Oltean (the thesis was coordinated by the second author, Prof. Daniel Ovidiu David)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral School “Evidence-Based Assessment and Psychological Interventions”, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Horea-Radu Oltean

  2. The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babeş-Bolyai University, No. 37, Republicii Street 37, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Horea-Radu Oltean & Daniel Ovidiu David

  3. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA

    Daniel Ovidiu David

Authors
  1. Horea-Radu Oltean
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  2. Daniel Ovidiu David
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Contributions

First and second authors designed the study. First author collected data and conducted the statistical analyses. First author wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Second author revised critically the manuscript, contributed to interpretation of data and all authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Daniel Ovidiu David.

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Oltean, HR., David, D.O. Affective and Cognitive Correlates of the Frequency of Using the Verb “to be”: An Empirical Test of E-Prime Theory. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 38, 143–154 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-019-00329-z

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