Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Synopsis of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT); Fundamental and Applied Research

  • Published:
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The article presents a synopsis on rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT), its fundamental theoretical framework, its applications, and future directions. The paper is organized according to the following structure: in part one, REBT fundamental/basic research is discussed; in the second part clinical/applied research in REBT is presented, including aspects of efficacy and effectiveness, discrimination of disorders for which REBT works most effectively, and its relations to other therapies. Uses and misuses of REBT and their impact on research and future developments are presented as well. While it is true that REBT research has many shortcomings, the overgeneralization and/or magnification of the negative, and the minimization of the positive are dysfunctional beliefs that maintain the false idea in the field that REBT has few empirical studies and that REBT research is in serious trouble. A balanced approach, analyzing both the strengths and weakness, suggest that REBT has hundreds of research articles and that high-quality studies tend to support REBT’s basic theory and efficacy. However, to strengthen this conclusion and to fully explore the potential of REBT, shortcomings of REBT research need to be corrected, and high-quality studies promoted. This is particularly important since, although effective, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies have not yet reached “the desired standard” of efficacy and effectiveness, as about 30–40% of people are still nonresponsive to these interventions Thus, REBT could be a platform of reinvigorating empirical studies on the efficacy/effectiveness and theory of cognitive-behavioral models of psychopathology and human functioning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abelson R. P., Rosenberg M. J., (1958). Symbolic psycho-logic: A model of attitudinal cognition Behavioral Science 3:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Alden L., Safran J., (1978). Irrational beliefs and non-assertive behaviour Cognitive Therapy and Research 2:357–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson J. R., (2000). Cognitive psychology and its implications (5th ed.) New York Worth Publishers, Inc

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron R. M., Kenny D. A., (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic and statistical considerations Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 51:1173–1182

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck A. T., (1967). Depression: clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects New York Harper and Row

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck A. T., (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders New York International Universities Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck A. T., Rush A. J., Shaw B. F., Emery G., (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression New York The Guilford Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck A. T., Emery G., (1985). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective New York Basic Books

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard M. E., (1998). Validations of General Attitude and Beliefs Scale Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 16:183–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Beswick G., Rothblum E., Mann L., (1988). Psychological antecedents of student procrastination Australian Psychologist 23:207–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonadies G. A., Bass B. A., (1984). Effects of self-verbalizations upon emotional arousal and performance: A test of rational-emotive theory Perceptual and Motor Skills 59:939–948

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond F. W., Dryden W., (1996). Testing an REBT theory: The effects of rational beliefs, irrational beliefs, and their control or certainty contents on the functionality of inferences II. In a personal context International Journal of Psychotherapy 1:55–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond F. W., Dryden W., (1997). Testing an REBT theory. The effects of rational beliefs, irrational beliefs, and their control or certainty contents on the functionality of inferences I. In a social context Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 15:157–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond F. W., Dryden W., Briscoe R., (1999). Testing two mechanisms by which rational and irrational beliefs may affect the functionality of inferences British Journal of Medical Psychology 72:557–566

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bond F. W., Dryden W., (2000). How rational beliefs and irrational beliefs affect people’s inferences: An experimental investigation Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 28:33–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridges R., Roig M., (1997). Academic procrastination and irrational thinking: A re-examination with context controlled Personality and Individual Differences 22:941–944

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown G., Beck A. T., (1990). The role of imperatives in psychopathology: A reply to Ellis Cognitive Therapy and Research 13:315–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Cayer M., DiMattia D. J., Wingrove J., (1988). Conquering evaluation fear Personnel Administrator 33:97–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain J. M., Haaga D. A. F., (2001a). Unconditional self-acceptance and psychological health Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 19:163–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain J. M., Haaga D. A. F., (2001b). Unconditional self-acceptance and responses to negative feedback Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 19:177–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang E. C., (1997). Irrational beliefs and negative life stress: Testing a diathesis-stress model of depressive symptoms Personality and Individual Differences 25:117–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang E. C., Bridewell W. B., (1998). Irrational beliefs, optimism, pessimism, and psychological distress: A preliminary examination of differential effects in a college population Journal of Clinical Psychology 54(2):137–142

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craighead W. E., Kimball W., Rehak P., (1979). Mood changes, physiological responses, and self-statements during social rejection imagery Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 47:385–396

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer D., (1985). Irrational beliefs and strength versus inappropriateness of feelings British Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 3:81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramer D., Buckland N., (1996). Effect of rational and irrational statements and demand characteristics on task anxiety The Journal of Psychology 129:269–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer D., Fong J., (1991). Effect of rational and irrational beliefs on intensity and “inappropriateness” of feelings: A test of rational-emotive theory Cognitive Therapy and Research 15:319–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramer D., Kupshik G., (1993). Effect of rational and irrational statements on intensity and inappropriateness of emotional distress and irrational beliefs in psychotherapy patients British Journal of Clinical Psychology 32:319–325

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • David D., (2003). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT): the view of a cognitive psychologist In W. Dryden, (Eds) Rational emotive behavior therapy. theoretical developments Brunner-Routledge New York

    Google Scholar 

  • David D., McMahon, (2001). Clinical strategies in cognitive behavioral therapy; A case analysis Romanian Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies 1:71–87

    Google Scholar 

  • David D., Schnur J., Belloiu A., (2002). Another search for the “hot” cognitions: Appraisal, irrational beliefs, attributions, and their relation to emotion Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 15:93–131

    Google Scholar 

  • David D., Schnur J., Birk J., (2003). Functional and dysfunctional feelings in Ellis’ cognitive theory of emotion: An empirical analysis Cognition and Emotion 18:869–880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David, D., Montgomery, G. H., Macavei, B., & Bovbjerg D. H. (in press). An empirical investigation of Albert Ellis’s Binary model of distress. Journal of Clinical Psychology

  • Davidson G. C., Robins C., Johnson M. K., (1983). Articulated thoughts during simulated situations: A paradigm for studying cognition in emotion and behavior Cognitive Therapy and Research 7:17–40

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe R., (1996). The nature of irrational and rational beliefs: Progress in rational emotive behavior theory Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 4:5–28

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe R., Miller N. J., Trexler L. D., (1977). A review of rational-emotive psychotherapy studies The Counseling Psychologist 7:64–72

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe R., Leaf R., Exner T., Robin M. W., (1988). The development of a measure of irrational/rational thinking. Presented at the World Congress of Behavior Therapy EdinburghScotland

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe R., McGowan L., Simon K. S., et al. (1990). A comparative outcome study of four cognitive therapies in the treatment of social anxiety Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:129–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowd T. E., Courchaine E. K., (1996). Implicit learning, tacit knowledge, and implications for stasis and change in cognitive psychotherapy Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 10:163–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden W., Ferguson J., Clark T., (1989a). Beliefs and inferences: A test of rational-emotive hypothesis 1. Performing in an academic seminar Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 7:119–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden W., Ferguson J., Hylton B., (1989b). Beliefs and inference: A test of rational-emotive hypothesis: 3. On expectations about enjoying a party British Journal of Guidance and Counseling 17:68–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden W., Ferguson J., McTeague S., (1989c). Beliefs and inferences: A test of rational-emotive hypothesis: 2. On the prospect of seeing a spider Psychological Reports 64:115–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckhardt C. I., Barbour K. A., Davidson G. C., (1998). Articulated thoughts of maritally violent and non-violent men during anger arousal Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 66:259–269

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., (1974). Humanistic psychotherapy. The rational-emotive approach New York McGraw-Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., (1962) Reason and emotion in psychotherapy New York Stuart

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., (1985). Differentiating inappropriate from appropriate feelings in RET British Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 3:90–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., (1987). A sadly neglected cognitive element of depression Cognitive Therapy and Research 11:121–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy (rev. ed.). Secaucus, NJ: Birscj Lane

  • Ellis A., Harper R. A., (1961). A guide to rational living Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., Harper R. A., (1975). A new guide to rational living North Hollywood, CA Wilshire

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A., DiGiuseppe R., (1993). Are inappropriate or dysfunctional feelings in rational-emotive therapy qualitative or quantitative? Cognitive Therapy and Research 17:471–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmelkamp P. M., Brilman E., Kuiper H., Mersch P. P., (1988). The treatment of agoraphobia: A comparison of self-instructional training, rational emotive therapy, and exposure in vivo Behavior Modification 10:37–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmelkamp P. M., Visser S., Hoekstra R. J., (1988). Cognitive therapy vs. exposure in vivo on the treatment of obsessive-compulsives Cognitive Therapy and Research 12:103–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmelkamp P. M., Beens H., (1991). Cognitive therapy with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A comparative evaluation Behavior Research and Therapy 29:293–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Engles G. I., Garnefsky N., Diekstra F. W., (1993). Efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative analysis Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 6:1083–1090

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck M. W., Keane M. T., (2000). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook (4th ed.) Philadelphia Psychology Press/Taylor and Francis

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari J., Emmons R., (1994). Procrastination as revenge: Do people report using delays as a strategy for vengeance? Personality and Individual Differences 17:539–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske S. T., (1993). Social cognition and social perception Annual Review of Psychology 44:155–194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldfried M., Sobocinski D., (1975). Effect of irrational beliefs on emotional arousal Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 43:504–510

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gossette R. L., O’Brien R. M., (1992). Efficacy of rational emotive therapy (RET) with children: A critical re-appraisal Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 24:15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Gossette R. L., O’Brien R. M., (1993). The efficacy of rational emotive therapy in adults: Clinical fact or psychometric artifact? Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 23:9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Haaga D. A. F., Davidson G. C., (1989a). Slow progress in rational-emotive therapy outcome research: Etiology and treatment Cognitive Therapy and Research 13:493–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Haaga D. A. F., Davidson G. C., (1989b). Outcome studies of rational-emotive therapy In M. E. Bernard, R. DiGiuseppe, (Eds.) Inside rational-emotive therapy: A critical appraisal of the theory and therapy of Albert Ellis New York Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Haaga D. A. F., Davidson G. C., (1993). An appraisal of rational-emotive therapy Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61:215–220

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammen C. L., Jacobs M., Mayol A., et al. (1980). Dysfunctional cognitions and the effectiveness of skills and cognitive-behavioural assertion training Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 48:685–695

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harju B., Eppler M., (1997). Achievement motivation, flow and irrational beliefs in traditional and non-traditional college students Journal of Instructional Psychology 24:147–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrel T. H., Chamless D. L., Calhoun J. F., (1981). Correlational relationships between self-statements and affective states Cognitive Therapy and Research 5:159–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart K. E., Turner S. H., Hittner J. B., Cardozo S. R., Paras K. C., (1991). Life stress and anger: Moderating effects of Type A irrational beliefs Personality and Individual Differences 12:557-560

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollon S. D., Kendall P. C., (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire Cognitive Therapy and Research 4:109–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter J. E., Schmidt F. L., (1990). Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings Newbury Park, CA Sage Publications

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram R. E., Siegle G. J., (2001). Cognition and clinical science: From revolution to evolution In K. S. Dobson, (Eds) Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies New York Guilford Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson W. B., Ridley C. R., (1992). Brief Christian and non-Christian rational-emotive therapy with depressed Christian clients: An exploratory study Counselling and Values 36:220–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson W. B., Devries R., Ridley C. R., et al. (1994). The comparative efficacy of Christian and secular rational-emotive therapy with Christian clients Journal of Psychology and Theology 22:130–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson W. B., Huwe J. M., Lucas J. L., (2000). Rational mentoring. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 18:39–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R. A. (1968). A factored measure of Ellis’ irrational beliefs system with personality and maladjustment correlates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Texas Technical College

  • Kanter N., Goldfried M., (1979). Relative effectiveness of rational restructuring and self-control desensitization in the reduction of interpersonal anxiety Behavior Therapy 10:472–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin A. E., (2003). Research design in clinical psychology Boston Allyn & Bacon

    Google Scholar 

  • Kombos N. A., Fournet G. P., Estes R. E., (1989). Effects of irrationality on a trail making performance task Perceptual and Motor Skills 68:591–598

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakatos I., (1970). Falsification and the methodology of scientific research programmes In I. Lakatosh, A. Musgrave, (Eds.) Criticism and the growth of knowledge Cambridge Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus R. S., (1991). Emotion and adaptation New York Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus R. S., Smith C. A., (1988). Knowledge and appraisal in the cognition emotion relationship Cognition and Emotion 2:281–300

    Google Scholar 

  • LeDoux J. E., (1996). The Emotional Brain: The mysterious underpinnings of emotional life New York, US Simon and Schuster

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn P. M., (1974). Clinical and theoretical aspects of depression In K. S Calhoun, H. E. Adams, H. M. Mitchell, (Eds) Innovative treatment methods of psychopathology New York Wiley (pp. 63–120)

    Google Scholar 

  • Linder H., Kirkby R., Wertheim E., Birch P., (1999). A brief assessment of irrational thinking: The shortened General Attitude and Beliefs Scale Cognitive Therapy and Research 23:651–663

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipsky M., Kassinove H., Miller N., (1980). Effects of rational-emotive therapy, rational role reversal and rational-emotive imagery on the emotional adjustment of community mental health center patients Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 48:366–374

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons L. C., Woods P. J. (1991). The efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative review of the outcome research Clinical Psychology Review 11:357–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Macaskill N. D., Macaskill A., (1996). Rational-emotive therapy plus pharmacotherapy versus pharmacotherapy alone in the treatment of high cognitive dysfunction depression Cognitive Therapy and Research 20:575–592

    Google Scholar 

  • MacIness D., (2004). The theories underpinning rational emotive behaviour therapy: where’s the supportive evidence International Journal of Nursing Studies 41:685–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney M. J., (1993). Introduction to special section: Theoretical developments in the cognitive psychotherapies Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61:187–194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malouff J. M., Schutte N. S., McClelland T., (1992). Examination of the relationship between irrational beliefs and state anxiety Personality and Individual Differences 4:451–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandler G., (1975) Mind and emotion New York Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr D., (1982). Vision San Francisco W. H. Freeman and Company

    Google Scholar 

  • Marzillier J., (1987). A sadly neglected cognitive element in depression: A reply to Ellis Cognitive Therapy and Research 11:147–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Master S., Gershman L., (1983). Physiological responses to rational-emotive self-verbalizations Journal of Behavioral Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 14:289–296

    Google Scholar 

  • McDermut J. F., Haaga A. A. F., Bilek L. A., (1997). Cognitive bias and irrational beliefs in major depression and dysphoria Cognitive Therapy and Research 21:459–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Mersch P. P., Emmelkamp P. M., Bogel S. M., van der Sleen J., (1989). Social phobia: Individual response patterns and the effects of behavioural and cognitive interventions Behaviour Research Therapy 27:421–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Mersch P. P., Emmelkamp P. M., Lips C., (1991). Social phobia: Individual response patterns and the long-term effects of behavioural and cognitive interventions A follow-up study. Behaviour Research and Therapy 29:357–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Monti R., Zwick W., Warzak W., (1986). Social skills and irrational beliefs: A preliminary Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 17:11–14

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muran J. C., Kassinove H., Ross S., Muran E., (1989). Irrational thinking and negative emotionality in college students and applicants for mental health services Journal of Clinical Psychology 45:188–193

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muran E. M., Motta R. W., (1993). Cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs in post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive disorders Journal of Clinical Psychology 49:166–176

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson R., (1977). Irrational beliefs and depression Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 45:1190–1191

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newark C., Frerking R., Cook L., Newark L., (1973). Endorsement of Ellis’ irrational beliefs as a function of psychopathology Journal of Clinical Psychology 29:300–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell A., (1990). Unified theories of cognitions Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Nottingham E. J., (1992). Use of the survey of personal beliefs scale: Further validation of a measure of irrational beliefs with psychiatric inpatients Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 10:207–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Padesky C. A., Beck. A. T., (2003). Science and philosophy: comparison of cognitive therapy and rational emotive behaviour therapy Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy 17:211–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Popa S., (2001). Interview with Albert Ellis: The “cognitive revolution” in psychotherapy Romanian Journal of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies 1:7–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Prola M., (1985). Irrational beliefs and intellectual performance Psychological Reports 57:431–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Reber A. S., (1993) Implicit learning and tacit knowledge: An essay in the cognitive unconscious Oxford Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehm L. P., (1977). A self-control model of depression Behaviour Therapy 8:787–804

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosin L., Nelson W. M., (1983). The effects of rational and irrational self-verbalizations on performance efficiency and levels of anxiety Journal of Clinical Psychology 39:208–213

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruth W., (1993). Evolutionary psychology and rational-emotive theory: Time to open the floodgates Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 11:235–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter D. L., (1987) Implicit memory: history and its currents status Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition 3:501–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter S., Singer J. E., (1962). Cognitive, social and physiological determinants of emotional state Psychological Review 69:379–399

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter D. L., Tulving E., (1994). Memory systems Cambridge, MA MIT Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Schill T., Monroe S., Evans R., Ramanaiah N., (1978). The effects of self-verbalization on performance: A test of the rational-emotive position Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 15:2–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Sdorow L. M., (1998). Psychology (4) Boston MA, McGraw-Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Seger C., (1994). Implicit Learning Psychological Bulletin 2:163–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman M. E. P., (1975). Helplessness: On depression, development, and death San Francisco W. H. Freeman

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman M. E. P., (1981). A learned helplessness point of view In L. P. Rehm, (Eds) Behaviour therapy for depression. present status and future directions New York Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelley A. M., Battaglia J., Lucely J., Ellis A., Opler A., (2001). Symptom-specific group therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia Einstein Quarterly Journal of Biology and Medicine 18:21–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith C. A., Lazarus R., (1993). Appraisal components, core relational theme, and the emotions Cognition and Emotion 7:233–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith C. A., Haynes K. N., Lazarus R. S., Pope L. K., (1993). In search of the “hot” cognitions: Attributions, appraisals and their relation to emotion Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 65:916–929

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith D., (1982). Trends in counselling and psychotherapy American Psychologists 37:802–809

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M. L., Glass G. V. (1977). Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies American Psychologist 32:752–760

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith T. W., Brehm S. S., (1981). Cognitive correlates of the type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern Motivation and Emotion 5:215–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith T. W., (1982). Irrational beliefs in the cause and treatment of emotional distress: A critical review of the rational-emotive model Clinical Psychology Review 2:505–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith T. W., Houston B. K., Zurawski R. M., (1984). Irrational beliefs and the arousal of emotional distress Journal of Counselling Psychology 31:190–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith T. W., (1989). Assessment in rational-emotive therapy: Empirical access to the ABCD model In M. E. Bernard, R. DiGiuseppe, (Eds) Inside rational-emotive therapy: A critical appraisal of the theory of Albert Ellis San Diego Academic Press (pp. 135–153)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon A., Haaga D. A. F., (1995). Rational emotive behaviour therapy research: What we know and what we need to know Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 13:179–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon A., Haaga D. A. F., Brody K., Kirk K., Friedman D. G., (1998). Priming irrational beliefs in formerly depressed individuals Journal of Abnormal Psychology 107:440–449

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon A., Bruce A., Gotlib I. H., Wind B., (2003). Individualized measurement of irrational beliefs in remitted depressives Journal of Clinical Psychology 59:439–455

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Still A., (2001). Marginalisation is not unbearable. Is it even undesirable? Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 19:55–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson S., Sobolew S., Galbraith M., Schwankovsky L., et al., (1993). Maintaining perceptions of control: Finding perceived control in low-control circumstances Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 64:293–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Walen S. R., DiGiuseppe R., Dryden W., (1992). A practitioner’s guide to rational-emotive therapy (2nd ed.) New York, NY, US Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Wampold B. E., Mondin G. W., Moody M., et al. (1997). A meta-analysis of outcome studies comparing bona fide psychotherapies: Empirically, “all must have prizes” Psychological Bulletin 122:203–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C., Jia F., Fang R., et al. (1999). Comparative study of rational-emotive therapy for 95 patients with dysthymic disorder Chinese Mental Health Journal 13:172–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren R., McLellarn R. W., Ponzoha C., (1988). Rational-emotive therapy versus general cognitive-behavior therapy in the treatment of low self-esteem and related emotional disturbances Cognitive Therapy and Research 12:21–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner B., (1985). An attributional theory of motivation and emotion New York Springer-Verlag

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessler R. L., (1982). Varieties of cognitions in the cognitively-oriented psychotherapies Rational Living 2:3–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Wegner D. M., Smart L., (1997). Deep cognitive activation: A new approach to the unconscious Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 6:984–995

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde J., (1996a). The efficacy of short-term rational-emotive education with fourth-grade students Elementary School Guidance and Counselling 31:131–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde J., (1996b). The relationship between rational thinking and intelligence in children Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy 14:187–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods P. J., Lyons L. C., (1990). Irrational beliefs and psychosomatic disorders Journal of Rational Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy 8:3–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettle R. D., Hayes S. C., (1980). Conceptual and empirical status of rational-emotive therapy Progress in Behaviour Modification 9:125–166

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Maria Avellino, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA, and Ryan Fuller, Albert Ellis Institute, USA, for their assistance in conducting this review. Also, we want to acknowledge the contribution of reviewers to this final form of the manuscript. Their expositional and scientific suggestions were very helpful.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Daniel David, Aurora Szentagotai, Kallay Eva & Bianca Macavei

  2. Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies, Babes-Bolyai University, No. 37. Gh. Bilascu Street, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Daniel David

Authors
  1. Daniel David
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aurora Szentagotai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kallay Eva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bianca Macavei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel David.

Additional information

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Biobehavioral and Integrative Medicine Programs, New York, USA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

David, D., Szentagotai, A., Eva, K. et al. A Synopsis of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT); Fundamental and Applied Research. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 23, 175–221 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0011-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-005-0011-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation