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Rationality and the Pursuit of Happiness
The Legacy of Albert Ellis
"Al Ellis was a great psychologist and as Professor Bernard's book demonstrates eloquently, he was an unsung hero of Positive Psychology." "This book is the 'missing link' between one of the most prominent movements in the mental health field – rational-emotive and cognitive-behavioral therapy (REBT/CBT) – and one of the 'hottest' topics in the clinical field, namely positive psychology. By integrating the two, the book bridges a gap. Exploring the role of rationality in happiness, as conceptualized by Albert Ellis, the book shows (a) how REBT/CBT can be applied not only for preventing and treating disorders or for health promotion, but also for human development / optimization; and (b) how positive psychology should be conceptualized in a scientific manner, avoiding Pollyannaish thinking. Indeed, Albert Ellis convincingly argued that rationality is the 'royal path' to authentic happiness, and this book is a powerful guide for those interested in exploring and pursuing this path, be they patients, general public or professionals (clinicians and researchers alike)." "This book is a labour of love! Michael Bernard has painstakingly transcribed a number of Albert Ellis's therapy and demonstration sessions as well as a selection of his lectures and has used this material to excellent effect to make Dr Ellis's views on psychological health and happiness come alive. A gem of a book on a gem of a man by a gem of an author." ‘Albert Ellis challenged us to work vigorously to abandon the irrational and emotionally explosive demands that we tend to impose on ourselves and others, escalating manageable frustrations into seemingly unbearable disasters, and needlessly promoting anxiety, depression, anger, and guilt. With a refreshingly original emphasis on the pursuit of happiness, Michael Bernard has provided a well-informed and engaging account of the life and work of this famed rational thinker and therapist that will make Ellis’s work accessible to a broad readership.’ ‘Michael Bernard’s book reveals the importance of ‘rationality’ as a positive faculty of mind that enables people to strengthen their resilience and self-efficacy in order to not only cope with the inevitable challenges, demands and changes characteristic of our post-modern age but, in addition, through the application of different principles of rational living identified by legendary psychologist Albert Ellis, to live fulfilled and meaningful professional and personal lives. I confidently commend this book.’ Why do I love this book? Why do I now insist that all my supervisees purchase a copy? To put it quite simply in this marvellous book, Michael Bernard has managed to integrate one of the most prominent movements in the mental health field – namely rational-emotive and cognitive behavioural therapy with positive psychology. In what is a first, Michael has in essence illuminated the role of rationality in happiness, as conceptualised by the great Albert Ellis.
—Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness
—Dr Daniel David, 'Aaron T. Beck' Professor of Clinical Cognitive Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania
—Professor Windy Dryden, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
—Professor Geoffrey L. Thorpe, University of Maine, US
—Professor Field Rickards, Dean, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
—Dr Michael Carr-Greg, Clinical Psychologist and Ambassador for Youthbeyondblue, Australia
Michael E. Bernard (Author)
9780470683125, Wiley
Hardback, published 5 November 2010
336 pages
22.8 x 15.9 x 2.2 cm, 0.601 kg
“The book is a good detailed overview of REBT methods. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, professionals, general readers.” (Choice, 1 July 2012) "This book provides a useful summary of what Ellis had to say on happiness." (Metapsychology, 15 November 2011)
RATIONALITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS “This book is a labor of love! Michael Bernard has painstakingly transcribed a number of Albert Ellis’s therapy and demonstration sessions as well as a selection of his lectures and has used this material to excellent effect to make Dr Ellis’s views on psychological health and happiness come alive. A gem of a book on a gem of a man by a gem of an author.” “Michael Bernard’s book reveals the importance of ‘rationality’ as a positive faculty of mind that enables people to strengthen their resilience and self-efficacy in order to not only cope with the inevitable challenges, demands and changes characteristic of our post-modern age but, in addition, through the application of different principles of rational living identified by legendary psychologist Albert Ellis, to live fulfilled and meaningful professional and personal lives. I confidently commend this book.” Albert Ellis, one of the world’s most influential psychologists, founded Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in the 1950s. Over the years, this pioneering form of cognitive behavior therapy has advanced the emotional well-being of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Yet while Ellis’s innovative approaches for helping people with emotional difficulties are well known, his views on the pursuit of personal happiness – which have also influenced generations of people both with and without such problems – are far more elusive. Ellis’s powerful arguments in favor of the rational pursuit of happiness are set out for the very first time in this book. Rationality and the Pursuit of Happiness presents Ellis’s views on how the principles of rational living can be used by anyone to achieve lifelong happiness. Transcripts of private counseling sessions and public forums reveal the great power of rationality and the self-defeating nature of irrationality. Drawing on 50 years of Ellis’s writing, Michael Bernard shows how the emotional misery that arises from irrational thinking of the human psyche can obstruct our innate potential for self-actualization and happiness. In doing so, he firmly establishes Ellis as a pioneer of positive psychology and a human being whose superior intellect and years of public education and psychotherapy experience offer genuine insights into the eternal question of what makes for a happy life.
Professor Windy Dryden, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
Professor Field Rickards, Dean, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia
About the Author xiii Preface xv 1 Albert Ellis and the Pursuit of Happiness 1 The Early Life and Times of Albert Ellis 3 Albert Ellis’ (Generally) Pleasurable and Happy Personal Life 4 Albert Ellis’ Professional Life was Self-actualized 6 Ellis Speaks Common Sense 8 The Dual Nature of the Human Psyche 9 Nature–Nurture 10 The Purpose and Goals of Life 11 Happiness 12 Self-actualization 14 Ellis Abandons Self-esteem 16 Finding Happiness: No Apologies Needed 17 2 Why We Get Unhappy 19 What is Unhappiness? 19 Thinking Makes It So 21 Irrational Thinking 22 Irrational Beliefs that Create Unhappiness 25 The Strength of Irrational Convictions 30 People Upset Themselves About Being Upset 35 3 Refusing to Become Desperately Unhappy 41 The Development of REBT 41 The ABCs of REBT 44 Disputing Methods and New Rational Effects 52 The Elegant Solution 63 Fun and Humor 64 4 The Philosophy of Happiness: Principles of Rational Living 67 Rational Principle 1: Self-interest 68 Rational Principle 2: Social Interest 70 Rational Principle 3: Self-direction 70 Rational Principle 4: Self-acceptance 71 Rational Principle 5: Tolerance of Others 73 Rational Principle 6: Short-term and Long-term Hedonism 74 Rational Principle 7: Commitment to Creative, Absorbing Activities and Pursuits 75 Rational Principle 8: Responsible Risk-taking and Experimenting 78 Rational Principle 9: High Frustration Tolerance and Willpower 79 Rational Principle 10: Problem Solving 81 Rational Principle 11: Scientific Thinking and Flexibility 83 The Rational Mindset of a Happy and Fulfilled Person 84 5 Love 87 Love Slobbism 88 Romantic Love 92 Jealousy and Possessiveness 98 Keeping Love Alive 103 6 Relationships 105 Encountering Suitable Partners 105 Mating 111 Separating 121 7 Sex 127 The Right to Sexual Enjoyment 129 Ellis on Sexual Morality 130 A Rational Approach to Sex Problems 141 8 Women 155 Depression 157 Weight 162 Dating and Mating 162 Work 166 Programs for Women 172 9 Homosexuality 173 Irrationality and Homosexuality 173 REBT Counseling 176 Aids 183 10 Work 187 Emotional Problems about Practical Problems at Work 188 Enhancing Decisiveness 191 Poor Self-Esteem in the Workplace 196 Perfectionism 201 Procrastination 209 11 Children and Parents 217 Parenting Styles and Discipline 218 Overcoming the Emotional Stresses of Parenting 220 How Parents Can Help Solve Problems of Their Children 226 Relating to Your Parents 229 12 Death and Dying 241 A Humanistic Conception of Death 242 Rational Living with Dying 243 13 Rational Living in an Irrational World 251 14 Albert Ellis Interviewed by Michael E. Bernard 263 On a Philosophy of Life as Therapy 264 On Religion 265 On Spirituality 266 On Politics 268 On the Mental Health of People in the Twenty-first Century 269 On the Future of the Human Race 270 On the Future of REBT 270 On Rational Beliefs and the Degree of Self-acceptance 271 On the Need to Strengthen Rational Beliefs 272 On Self-downing 276 On Self-Actualizing 276 On Homosexuality 277 On Marriage 279 On Sex 280 On the Use of REBT in Diverse Cultures 281 On the Use of REBT with Men and Women 281 On Dispelling Myths about REBT 283 On the Professional Acceptance of REBT 284 On His Work Ethic 285 On His Morning Mindset 287 On Dealing with Physical Ailments 287 On Satisfying Moments Over the Years 287 On His Recent Pleasurable Moments 288 On His Regrets 289 If He Had to Do It All Over Again? 289 A Rational Approach to Happiness 291 Article by Michael E. Bernard References and Acknowledgment of Copyright 299 Index 301
Subject Areas: Psychology [JM]
