Ellis’s ABC model

• Ellis believed that those who are suffering from depression mistakenly blame external events for their unhappiness. The Way they interpret this leads to depressive thoughts and emotions.
• Irrational thinking prevents us from being happy.
• Activating event: An event in the environment triggers the depression to begin.

  Beliefs: Activating events reinforce the beliefs which can be rational or irrational - a major disaster and must always be perfect.

  Consequences: An emotional response to the belief. A rational belief leads to healthy emotions, and irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotions.
• Mustabatory thinking → Source of irrational thinking that certain ideas MUST be true to make them happy.

  • must be approved
  • must do well
  • must give me happiness

  Those with these beliefs will feel worthless and respond irrationally to activating events which can cause depression.