ABC model

• Ellis (1962) depression occurs as a result of irrational thinking,
• Disturbed individuals usually have at least one core irrational beliefs to which other irrational beliefs are related. These beliefs can be related to themselves, such as how they need to succeed to be worthwhile, or to circumstances.
• Individuals are not consciously aware of these core beliefs. It is not the event itself that causes the experience of negative thoughts and emotions but the individual themselves and how they interpret the events in an irrational way.
• Ellis believed that if an individual spends time thinking irrationally then it becomes a habit that is hard to break and then leads to depression.
• Rational thinking = good mental health.
• Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) was developed to help clients identify what their negative or irrational beliefs are and help challenge them.
• Theory explained depression by focusing on the roles of activating events, beliefs and consequences.
• If an event occurs, a person may interpret it irrationally. This belief can lead to negative consequences which can either worsen or lead to depression.
• A = Activating event
• Activating event – situation which triggers the individual to potentially have an irrational thought.
• Beliefs

  how the event is interpreted by the individual. If irrationally you might assume that you have done something wrong and that they are no longer speaking to you because you have upset them. If rationally you might assume that perhaps they were listening to music with their earphones and they didn’t hear you.
• B = Beliefs
• C = Consequences
• Consequences

  the consequences of the belief can be what you do or how you feel or any other thoughts you may have about the situation. Ellis suggested that the beliefs and the consequences are actually quite similar.
• If you interpret the event irrationally then you might feel upset and worried that they will no longer want to be your friend, that you will be lonely, that they might tell other people that you have done something wrong, that other people then won’t like you either. All of these could result in depression. But if you interpret it rationally you might call your friend later and make a bit of a joke out of the situation.