Ellis suggested a different cognitive approach for depression. He proposed that good mental health is the result of rational thinking - thinking in ways that allow people to be happy & free of pain. Conditions like anxiety and depression result from irrational thoughts - thoughts that intervene with us being happy and free from pain. He used the ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional state.
A - Activating event
Ellis focused on situations in which irrational thoughts are triggered by external events. We get depressed when we experience negative news and these trigger irrational beliefs.
B - Beliefs
This identified a range of irrational belifs. He called the belief that we must always succeed or achieve perfectionmusturbation. 'I-can’t-stand-it-itis' is the belief that it’s a major disaster whenever something doesn't go smoothly. Utopianism is the belief that life is always meant to be fair.
C - Consequences
When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional & behavioural consequences. If a person believes they must always succeed and if they fail at something it can trigger depression.
