Page 139 - READING COMPANION TO ENGLISH EXAMS

8.1 HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY

Irrational Beliefs and Psychological Well-Being

Irrational beliefs have a profound impact on the psychological well-being of individuals. They shape their
perceptions and give rise to self-criticism, catastrophising, and black-and-white thinking. Furthermore, thinking
irrationally in a persistent way can lead to cognitive distortions, which are flaws in logical thinking that affect
the processing of information. Consequently, individuals tend to make judgments and assumptions based
on personal experiences rather than logical reasoning or empirical evidence. These distorted perceptions,
including delusional beliefs about oneself, others, and the world, contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and
an overall decline in mental health. Conversely, the promotion of rational beliefs and beneficial attitudes can
foster and sustain a state of well-being and success. According to Dr Albert Ellis, the founder of Rational
Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), irrational beliefs arise when an individual’s goals or desires are impeded or
when they experience unexpected setbacks in their plans. In addition, Ellis suggests that numerous emotional
and behavioural disturbances spring from illogical thinking patterns that are inappropriate, unhelpful, or even
destructive. Therefore, the therapy rests strictly on disputing—challenging and questioning the irrational and
dysfunctional beliefs and replacing them with more rational and functional ones. Unlike previous therapies,
which extensively dwelled on childhood traumas, REBT highlights the role of beliefs in shaping emotions.
Instead of attributing emotional experiences solely to external events, REBT encourages individuals to
autonomously identify and challenge negative thought patterns, enabling them to effectively address emotional
and behavioural problems.

a Match the highlighted words and phrases in the passage to the definitions below.

1. : to think or talk a lot about something, especially something it would be better to forget
2. : the act of furthering the growth or development of something
3. : in a way that involves a person being able to do things and make independent decisions
4. : to be caused by or be a result of something
5. : in all details
6. : to delay or stop the progress of something
7. : inappropriate to reality or facts
8. : based on experiments or experience rather than ideas or theories
9. : to imagine the worst possible outcome of an action or event
10. : a change in facts, ideas, etc. that makes them no longer correct or true

b Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the words and phrases given below.

distortion empirical promotion
catastrophise dwell on impede spring from

1. Human psychology often the intricate workings of the mind, exploring the depths of
emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
2. The groundbreaking theories of perception that we study today have the profound insights
of visionaries in the past.
3. When we experience severe anxiety, our mental processes can become , leading to
irrational thoughts and perceptions.
4. A common example of is when someone loses their job and immediately jumps to the
conclusion that they will never find another job and will end up homeless.
5. In psychology, researchers often rely on derived evidence to support their theories and
understand human behaviour.
6. An individual’s unresolved childhood traumas can often serve as a(n) to their emotional
well-being and overall psychological growth.
7. In order to mental health awareness, a team of psychologists has organised workshops
and seminars on stress management and self-care techniques.
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