Abstract
In this chapter, we will introduce the fundamentals of Buddhism to provide a framework for our discussion of the role of acceptance in conceptualizing the self, ameliorating psychopathology, and spurring new developments in the field of psychotherapy. We will use Albert Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as an example of a Western psychological and psychotherapeutic approach to achieving unconditional self-acceptance, and we will examine this perspective from the vantage point of Buddhist views of the self. We focus mainly on REBT because it has advanced one of the oldest, original, most straightforward, and elaborated theories regarding the self and unconditional self-acceptance, as an alternative to self-rating (e.g., self-esteem). However, we will also describe how a growing number of psychotherapies are capitalizing on newfound interest in Buddhist approaches to cultivating acceptance and contending mindfully with maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Amir, N., Coles, M. E., Brigidi, B., & Foa, E. B. (2001). The effect of practice on recall of emotional information in individuals with generalized social phobia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(1), 76–82.
Baer, R. A. (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 125–143. doi:10.1093/clipsy.bpg015.
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13(1), 27–45. doi:10.1177/1073191105283504.
Beck, J. S. (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. New York: Guilford.
Bowen, S., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T. M., Chawla, N., Simpson, T. L., Ostafin, B. D., et al. (2006). Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 20(3), 343–347. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.20.3.343.
Brach, T. (2000). Radical self-acceptance: A Buddhist guide to freeing yourself from Shame. Sounds True: Audio Cassette.
Buswell, R. E. (2004). Encyclopedia of Buddhism. New York: Macmillan.
Chamberlain, J. M., & Haaga, D. A. F. (2001a). Unconditional self-acceptance and psychological health. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 19(3), 163–176.
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(3), 177–189.
Christopher, M. S. (2003). Albert Ellis and the Buddha: Rational soul mates? A comparison of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) and Zen Buddhism. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 6(3), 283–293.
Coogan, M. D. (2003). The illustrated guide to world religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cordova, J. V., & Kohlenberg, R. J. (1994). Acceptance and the therapeutic relationship. In S. C. Hayes, N. S. Jacobson, V. M. Follette, & M. J. Dougher (Eds.), Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy (pp. 125–140). Reno, NV: Context.
Dalgleish, T., & Yiend, J. (2006). The effects of suppressing a negative autobiographical memory on concurrent intrusions and subsequent autobiographical recall in dysphoria. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115(3), 467–473. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.115.3.467.
David, D., Lynn, S. J., & Ellis, A. (2010). Rational and irrational beliefs: Research, theory, and clinical practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Davis, D. M., & Hayes, J. A. (2011). What are the benefits of mindfulness? A practical review of psychotherapy-related research. Psychotherapy, 48(2), 198–208.
Dawes, R. (1996). House of cards. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Dutton, K. A., & Brown, J. D. (1997). Global self-esteem and specific self-views as determinants of people’s reactions to success and failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(1), 139–418.
Ellis, A. (1977). Psychotherapy and the value of a human being. In A. Ellis & R. Grieger (Eds.), Handbook of rational-emotive therapy (pp. 99–112). New York: Springer.
Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Secaucus, NJ: Carol.
Ellis, A. (2005). The myth of self-esteem: How rational emotive behavior therapy can change your life forever. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.
Ellis, A., & Robb, H. (1994). Acceptance and rational-emotive therapy. In S. C. Hayes, N. S. Jacobson, V. M. Follette, & M. J. Dougher (Eds.), Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy (pp. 91–102). Reno, NV: Context.
Greenberg, L. (1994). Acceptance in experiential therapy. In S. C. Hayes, N. S. Jacobson, V. M. Follette, & M. J. Dougher (Eds.), Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy (pp. 73–86). Reno, NV: Context.
Greenberg, L. S., & Safran, J. D. (1989). Emotion in psychotherapy. The American Psychologist, 44(1), 19–29.
Grossman, P., Niemann, L., Schmidt, S., & Walach, H. (2004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and health benefits. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57(1), 35–43. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00573-7.
Grossman, P., Tiefenthaler-Gilmer, U., Raysz, A., & Kesper, U. (2007). Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: Evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 76(4), 226–233. doi:10.1159/000101501.
Hayes, S. C. (2004). Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies. Behavior Therapy, 35(4), 639–665.
Hayes, S. C., Follette, V. M., & Linehan, M. M. (2004). Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition. New York, NY: Guilford.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Understanding and treating human suffering. New York: Guilford.
Hayes, S. C., & Wilson, K. G. (2003). Mindfulness: Method and process. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 161–165.
Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. doi:10.1037/a0018555.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Delta Trade Paperbacks.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156.
Karekla, M., Forsyth, J. P., & Kelly, M. M. (2004). Emotional avoidance and panicogenic responding to a biological challenge procedure. Behavior Therapy, 35, 725–746.
Lama Surya Das, S. (1997). Awakening the Buddha within: Eight steps to enlightenment. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford.
Linehan, M. M. (1994). Acceptance and change: The central dialectic in psychotherapy. In S. C. Hayes, N. S. Jacobson, V. M. Follette, & M. J. Dougher (Eds.), Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy (pp. 73–86). Reno, NV: Context.
MacLeod, M. D., Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2003). The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in the construction and distortion of memories. In B. Kokinov & W. Hirst (Eds.), Constructive memory: NBU series in cognitive science (pp. 55–68). Sophia: New Bulgarian University.
Manne, S., Duhamel, K., Ostroff, J., Parsons, S., Martini, D. R., Williams, S. E., et al. (2003). Coping and the course of mother’s depressive symptoms during and after pediatric bone marrow transplantation. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(9), 1055–1068.
Marsh, H. W. (1990). A multidimensional, hierarchical model of selfconcept: Theoretical and empirical justification. Educational Psychology Review, 2, 77–172.
McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1996). Toward a new generation of personality theories: Theoretical contexts for the Five-Factor Model. In J. S. Wiggins (Ed.), The Five-Factor Model of personality: Theoretical perspectives (pp. 51–87). New York: Guilford.
McCurry, S. M., & Schmidt, A. (1994). Acceptance, serenity and resignation in elderly caregivers. In S. C. Hayes, N. S. Jacobson, V. M. Folette, & M. J. Dougher (Eds.), Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy. Reno, University of Nevada: Context.
Passer, M. W., & Smith, R. E. (2009). Psychology: The science of mind and behavior (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Piet, J., & Hougaard, E. (2011). The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse in recurrent major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1032–1040.
Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (1987). Diagnosis and treatment of normal eating. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(5), 635–644.
Roberts, J. E., & Gotlib, I. H. (1997). Temporal variability in global self-esteem and specific self-evaluation as prospective predictors of emotional distress: Specificity in predictors and outcome. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106(4), 521–529.
Robins, C. J., Schmidt, H., & Linehan, M. M. (2004). Dialectical behavior therapy: Synthesizing radical acceptance with skillful means. In S. C. Hayes, V. M. Follette, & M. M. Linehan (Eds.), Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition (pp. 30–44). New York: Guilford.
Roemer, L., Orsillo, S. M., & Salters-Pedneault, K. (2008). Efficacy of an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: Evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 1083–1089.
Rogers, C. R. (1953). The interest in the practice of psychotherapy. The American Psychologist, 8, 48–50.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York, NY: The Guilford.
Silver, R. C., Holman, E. A., McIntosh, D. N., Poulin, M., & Gil-Rivas, V. (2002). Nationwide longitudinal study of psychological responses to September 11. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(10), 1235–1244.
Strauss, J., Doyle, A. E., & Kreipe, R. E. (1994). The paradoxical effect of diet commercials on reinhibition of dietary restraint. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103(3), 441–444.
Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z., & Williams, J. M. (1995). How does cognitive therapy prevent depressive relapse and why should attentional control (mindfulness) training help? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33(1), 25–39.
Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. (2000). Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 615–623.
Wegner, D. M., Schneider, D. J., Carter, S. R., 3rd, & White, T. L. (1987). Paradoxical effects of thought suppression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53(1), 5–13.
Whitfield, H. J. (2006). Towards case-specific applications of mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioural therapies: A mindfulness-based rational emotive behaviour therapy. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19(2), 205–217.
Williams, J. C., & Lynn, S. J. (2010). Acceptance: An historical and conceptual review. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 30(1), 5–56.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
David, D., Lynn, S.J., Das, L.S. (2013). Self-Acceptance in Buddhism and Psychotherapy. In: Bernard, M. (eds) The Strength of Self-Acceptance. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6806-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6806-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6805-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6806-6
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)