The Myth of Self-Esteem: How Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Can Change Your Life Forever.Albert Ellis Albert Ellis (September 27 1913 – July 24 2007) was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and founded and was the president and president emeritus of the . The Myth of Self-Esteem: How Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a comprehensive, active-directive, philosophically and empirically based psychotherapy which focuses on resolving cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems. Can Change Your Life Forever. Amherst, NY: Prometheus, 2005. Many psychologists preach the importance of self-esteem, but on closer analysis the meaning of self-esteem often amounts to little more than basing our sense of self-worth on the success of our achievements or relationships. In this insightful exploration of authentic "self-acceptance," Albert Ellis, the author of more than seventy-five books and the president emeritus of The Albert Ellis Institute for Rational Emotive Therapy, criticizes the traditional definition of self-esteem, calling it "Conditional Self-Acceptance" (CSA (1) (Canadian Standards Association, Toronto, Ontario, www.csa.ca) A standards-defining organization founded in 1919. It is involved in many industries, including electronics, communications and information technology. )--i.e., we feel good about ourselves only on condition that we fulfill certain ambitions and personal desires. Dr. Ellis proposes instead "Unconditional Self-Acceptance" (USA)--learning to appreciate our unique personalities no matter what good or bad actions we do or how successful our relationships turn out to be. This more realistic approach, Ellis points out, helps us to avoid the common pitfall pit·fall n. 1. An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard: "potential pitfalls stemming from their optimistic inflation assumptions" New York Times. of failing to live up to our (often unrealistic) expectations and the consequent feelings of self-denigration, low self-esteem, and depression, which impede our ability to tackle life's challenges. Dr. Ellis provides a historical review of the concepts of self-esteem and self-acceptance, examining the thinking of great religious teachers, philosophers, and psychologists-including Lao Tsu, Jesus, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Buber, Heidegger, Sartre, Tillich, the Dali Lama, Carl Rogers Noun 1. Carl Rogers - United States psychologist who developed client-centered therapy (1902-1987) Rogers , and Nathaniel Branden, among others. He then provides exercises for training oneself to change self-defeating habits to the healthy, positive approach of self-acceptance. These include specific thinking techniques as well as emotive and behavioral exercises. He concludes by stressing Unconditional Self Acceptance (USA) as the basis for healthy relationships with others, along with "Unconditional Other-Acceptance" (UOA UOA University of Athens UOA University of Auckland (New Zealand) UOA United Ostomy Association UoA Unit of Assessment UOA University Of Alberta UOA Used Oil Analysis UOA University of Arkansas ) and a total philosophy of life anchored in "Unconditional Life-Acceptance" (ULA ULA Universidad de Los Andes ULA United Launch Alliance ULA Utah Library Association ULA Unique Local Address ULA Uncommitted Logic Array ULA Uniform Linear Array ULA Uganda Land Alliance ULA Upper Layer Architecture ULA User Licensing Agreement ). It all sounds quite rational to me. REVIEW BY MARTIN H. LEVINSON, PHD EDITOR: MARTIN H. LEVINSON, PHD |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion