Which statement best captures the core philosophy of REBT?

Which statement best captures the core philosophy of REBT?

• A. People have little control over their emotional responses.
• B. People control their own destinies and interpret events according to their own values and beliefs.
• C. The therapist directly imposes beliefs to change emotions.
• D. All emotions are purely biologically determined.

Answer: (B)

REBT centers on the idea that emotional responses come from how we interpret events through our beliefs, not from the events themselves. This means people can influence their feelings by examining and changing their beliefs, especially irrational ones, to fit their values and goals. In practice, the therapist helps the client dispute those irrational beliefs and replace them with more rational, flexible ones, leading to healthier emotions and actions. The statement that people control their own destinies and interpret events according to their own beliefs captures this emphasis on personal responsibility and cognitive interpretation. It fits REBT’s approach far better than notions that we have little control, that the therapist imposes beliefs, or that emotions are purely biologically determined.

REBT centers on the idea that emotional responses come from how we interpret events through our beliefs, not from the events themselves. This means people can influence their feelings by examining and changing their beliefs, especially irrational ones, to fit their values and goals. In practice, the therapist helps the client dispute those irrational beliefs and replace them with more rational, flexible ones, leading to healthier emotions and actions. The statement that people control their own destinies and interpret events according to their own beliefs captures this emphasis on personal responsibility and cognitive interpretation. It fits REBT’s approach far better than notions that we have little control, that the therapist imposes beliefs, or that emotions are purely biologically determined.