Ellis’ ABC model

• Ellis took a different approach to explaining depression and started by explaining what is required for ‘good‘ mental health
• According to Ellis good mental health is the result of rational thinking which allows people to be happy and pain free, whereas depression is the result of irrational thinking, which prevents us from being happy and pain free
• Ellis ABC model Proposed a three stage model to explain how irrational thoughts could lead to depression
• Activating event- according to Ellis, we get depressed when we experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs. events like failing an important test or ending a relationship might trigger irrational beliefs
• Belief- Ellis identified a range of irrational beliefs:

  • musturbation- the belief that we must always succeed or achieve perfection
  • ‘I- can‘t-stand-it-itis’- is the belief that it is a major disaster when something doesn’t go smoothly
  • Utopianism- the belief yjay life is always meant to be fair