Irrational beliefs, attitudes about competition, and splitting

J Clin Psychol. 2001 Mar;57(3):343-54. doi: 10.1002/jclp.1016.

Abstract

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) theoretically promotes actualization of both individualistic and social-oriented potentials. In a test of this assumption, the Belief Scale and subscales from the Survey of Personal Beliefs served as measures of what REBT presumes to be pathogenic irrationalities. These measures were correlated with the Hypercompetitive Attitude Scale (HCAS), the Personal Development Competitive Attitude Scale (PDCAS), factors from the Splitting Index, and self-esteem. Results for the HCAS and Self-Splitting supported the REBT claim about individualistic self-actualization. Mostly nonsignificant and a few counterintuitive linkages were observed for irrational beliefs with the PDCAS, Family-Splitting, and Other-Splitting, and these data suggested that REBT may be less successful in capturing the "rationality" of a social-oriented self-actualization.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Competitive Behavior*
  • Defense Mechanisms*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuation*
  • Male
  • Personality Assessment
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive*
  • Social Perception*