ABC Technique of Irrational Beliefs

Psychologist and researcher Dr. Albert Ellis created the ABC model in 1957 to help us understand the meaning of our reactions to adversity. His model called ABC Technique of Irrational Beliefs.

¢ A-Activating agent or objective situation: The objective situation, that is, an event that ultimately leads to some type of high emotional response or negative dysfunctional thinking.

¢ B – Beliefs:  In the next stage the client writes down the negative thoughts that occurred to them.

¢ C – Consequence: the negative feelings and dysfunctional behaviors that ensued. The negative are seen as a connecting bridge between the situation and the distressing feelings. C is next explained by describing emotions or negative thoughts that the client thinks are caused by A. This could be anger, sorrow, anxiety, etc.

¢ Ellis believes that it is not the activating event (A) that causes negative emotional and behavioral consequences (C), but rather that a person interpret these events unrealistically and therefore has a irrational belief system (B) that helps cause the consequences (C).

¢ According to Ellis abnormality stems from faulty cognitions about others, our world and us. This faulty thinking may be through cognitive deficiencies (lack of planning) or cognitive distortions (processing information inaccurately).
• These cognitions cause distortions in the way we see things; Ellis suggested it is through irrational thinking

For example:-

Maila is upset because she got a low mark on a math test. The Activating event, A, is that she failed her test. The Belief, B, is that she must have good grades or she is worthless. The Consequence, C, is that Maila feels depressed.