Albert Ellis

• Albert Ellis' main ideas about the cognitive explanation of depression

  • Irrational thinking
  • ABC Model
• Ellis' ABC Model

  Depression is the result of irrational thoughts

  Thoughts that interfere with someone being happy and free from pain
• ABC Model stands for

  • A - Activating Event , typically labelled the cause by the depressed person
  • B - Beliefs ( irrational )
  • C - Consequences , an emotional response
• Ellis believes it is the irrational beliefs which trigger depression , not the event itself