Albert Ellis and the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Albert Ellis and the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Psychology, Period A
December 10, 2012
Albert Ellis and the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Albert Ellis was born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 17, 1913. He was the eldest out of three children. As a child, he mostly took care of his younger siblings because his father was a business man and was mostly away on business trips. His mother was described as “self-absorbed” and “bi-polar” in his biography; so neither of his parents emotionally supported any of their children. During the depression, everyone was forced to work in order to keep afloat. Ellis, however, was very weak. At the age of 5, he developed a kidney ailment and tonsillitis. By the time he was 7 he had been hospitalized 8 different times, each time his parents no or little emotional support. For college, Ellis went to City University of New York where he earned his business degree. For a few years, he tried to write and create a business; however he discovered that those were not his true callings. During this time, he became an expert in human sexuality and became a counsel. In 1942, Ellis decided he wanted to earn his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He attended Colombia University and earned his Ph.D. in 1947. As soon as he graduated he worked part-time in private practice in New York, and full-time in New Jersey. He ended up quitting part-time, so he would be able to work in private practice full-time. Around this time, Ellis started becoming extremely controversial because of his push for sexual freedom and gay rights. He was known as a “sexologist”. In 1953, he changed his title to a rational therapist. By 1955, he founded the rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). He later passed away in 2007 due to illness. Albert Ellis’ REBT gave insight as to why people respond the way they do, therefore making it an interesting topic to explore. REBT is from the idea that behavior supports irrational thoughts
Psychology, Period A
December 10, 2012
Albert Ellis and the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Albert Ellis was born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 17, 1913. He was the eldest out of three children. As a child, he mostly took care of his younger siblings because his father was a business man and was mostly away on business trips. His mother was described as “self-absorbed” and “bi-polar” in his biography; so neither of his parents emotionally supported any of their children. During the depression, everyone was forced to work in order to keep afloat. Ellis, however, was very weak. At the age of 5, he developed a kidney ailment and tonsillitis. By the time he was 7 he had been hospitalized 8 different times, each time his parents no or little emotional support. For college, Ellis went to City University of New York where he earned his business degree. For a few years, he tried to write and create a business; however he discovered that those were not his true callings. During this time, he became an expert in human sexuality and became a counsel. In 1942, Ellis decided he wanted to earn his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He attended Colombia University and earned his Ph.D. in 1947. As soon as he graduated he worked part-time in private practice in New York, and full-time in New Jersey. He ended up quitting part-time, so he would be able to work in private practice full-time. Around this time, Ellis started becoming extremely controversial because of his push for sexual freedom and gay rights. He was known as a “sexologist”. In 1953, he changed his title to a rational therapist. By 1955, he founded the rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). He later passed away in 2007 due to illness. Albert Ellis’ REBT gave insight as to why people respond the way they do, therefore making it an interesting topic to explore. REBT is from the idea that behavior supports irrational thoughts
References: Bond, F. (1996). Testing an REBT theory: The effects of rational beliefs, irational beliefs, and their control or.. International Journal Of Psychotherapy, 1(1), 55. Cash, Adam. "Playing Together Nicely: Behavior and Cognitive Therapies." Psychology for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, 2002. 288-89. Print. Dr. Mike, & Dr. Abrams, L. (2012). Albert Ellis Biography by Dr. Mike and Dr. Lidia Abrams. Albert Ellis Biography and Research Site. Retrieved from http://www.rebt.ws/albertellisbiography.html Ross, W. (2006). What is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)? REBT Network: Albert Ellis | Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.rebtnetwork.org/whatis.html