Ellis

• Albert Ellis' view on depression


  Depressives mistakenly blame external events for their unhappiness, but it is their interpretation of these events that is to blame for their distress
• Albert Ellis' proposed key to depression


  Irrational beliefs
• Albert Ellis' ABC model


  1. A: Activating event - something happens in the environment around you

  2. B: Belief which is held about the event, may be rational or irrational

  3. C: Consequence - rational beliefs lead to healthy emotions, irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotions
• Activating event


  Does not directly cause the consequence, the consequence is caused by the beliefs about the activating event
• Individuals who become depressed


  • Interpret unpleasant events in excessively negative or threatening ways
  • Having such irrational beliefs leads to unhealthy negative reactions and emotions