The ABC model is the foundation of Albert Ellis's REBT. A is the event, B is the belief, C is the consequence. Why A doesn't cause C but B does — and how to work with this.
"I was fired — that's why I feel bad." This seems obvious. But Albert Ellis proposed a different way of looking at it: it is not the firing that causes depression — but what the person thinks about the firing. This is the ABC model — one of the foundations of all cognitive therapy.
The ABC model was developed by Albert Ellis within Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in the 1950s and became a predecessor to Beck's CBT.
Key idea: A doesn't cause C — B causes C. The same A produces different C depending on B.
Ellis identified categories of "irrational beliefs" that generate dysfunctional emotions:
Ellis expanded the model to ABCDE:
"More rational" belief → more functional emotion. Not "positive" — functional: appropriate to the situation and not interfering with life.
Beck: emphasis on empirical testing of beliefs — gathering evidence for and against, like a scientist. Ellis: emphasis on logical disputing — the belief is irrational because there are no logical grounds for demanding that reality behave in a certain way.
Both methods work. Modern CBT integrates both approaches.
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This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in a crisis situation, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a crisis helpline.