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Rational-irrational beliefs and the effects of the Velten Mood Induction Procedure

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Abstract

Despite the extensive use of the Velten Mood Induction Procedure (VMIP) for the analogue study of cognitive factors in emotional disorders, researchers have ignored individual-difference variables in the susceptibility to mood induction. In the present study, extreme groups were selected on the Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT), a measure of subjects' endorsement of Ellis' irrational beliefs. Twenty-seven rational and 27 irrational subjects were exposed to the VMIP positive, neutral, or negative self-statement conditions and were given a pre- and post-induction MAACL to assess dyphoric mood states. As predicted, the results were interactive, with irrationals showing affective susceptibility to negative VMIP but not to positive VMIP, and vice versa for rationals. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.

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Cash, T.F., Rimm, D.C. & MacKinnon, R. Rational-irrational beliefs and the effects of the Velten Mood Induction Procedure. Cogn Ther Res 10, 461–467 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173297

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