Table Of ContentRationality and the Pursuit of Happiness
“Thisbookisthemissinglinkbetweenoneofthemostprominentmovements
inthementalhealthfield–rational-emotiveandcognitive-behavioraltherapy
(REBT/CBT) – and one of the hottest topics in the clinical field, namely
positivepsychology.Byintegratingthetwo,thebookbridgesagap.Exploring
theroleofrationalityinhappiness,asconceptualizedbyAlbertEllis,thebook
shows(a)howREBT/CBTcanbeappliednotonlyforpreventingandtreating
disordersorforhealthpromotion,butalsoforhumandevelopment/optimi-
zation;and(b)howpositivepsychologyshouldbeconceptualizedinascientific
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,betheypatients,generalpublicorprofessionals(cliniciansandresearchers
alike).”
—DrDanielDavid
‘AaronT.Beck’ProfessorofClinicalCognitiveSciences,
Babes-BolyaiUniversity,Romania
Albert Ellis challenged us to work vigorously to abandon the irrational and
emotionallyexplosivedemandsthatwetendtoimposeonourselvesandothers,
escalating manageable frustrations into seemingly unbearable disasters, and
needlesslypromotinganxiety,depression,anger,andguilt.Witharefreshingly
originalemphasisonthepursuitofhappiness,MichaelBernardhasprovideda
well-informedandengagingaccountofthelifeandworkofthisfamedrational
thinkerandtherapistthatwillmakeEllis’workaccessibletoabroadreadership.’
—ProfessorGeoffreyL.Thorpe
UniversityofMaine,USA
Rationality and the Pursuit
of Happiness
The Legacy of Albert Ellis
Michael E. Bernard
Thiseditionfirstpublished2011
(cid:1)MichaelE.Bernard
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Bernard,MichaelEdwin,1950-
Rationalityandthepursuitofhappiness:thelegacyofAlbertEllis/MichaelE.Bernard.
p.;cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-0-470-68312-5(cloth)–ISBN978-0-470-68311-8(pbk.)
1. Ellis,Albert,1913-2007. 2. Rationalemotivebehaviortherapy.
I. Title.
[DNLM:1. Ellis,Albert,1913–2007. 2. Happiness. 3. Psychotherapy,
Rational-Emotive–methods. BF575.H27]
RC489.R3B472011
616.89–dc22
2010027832
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
Setin10/12ptTimesbyThomsonDigital,Noida,India.
PrintedandboundinSingaporebyHoPrintingSingaporePteLtd.
1 2011
PhotoofMichaelBernardinterviewingAlbertEllis(cid:1)MichaelE.Bernard
Acknowledgment and Dedication
Thegoalofalllifeistohaveaball.
AlbertEllis
ToAlbertEllis,forhisgenerosityinprovidingover100audio-cassettetapesof
publicdemonstrationsandprivatetherapysessionsthathavebeentranscribed
and which appear in this book. This book is dedicated to Albert Ellis for his
contributiontothewell-beingofmillionsofpeople.
Contents
Abouttheauthor xiii
Preface xv
1 AlbertEllisandthePursuitofHappiness 1
TheEarlyLifeandTimesofAlbertEllis 3
AlbertEllis’(Generally)PleasurableandHappyPersonalLife 4
AlbertEllis’ProfessionalLifewasSelf-actualized 6
EllisSpeaksCommonSense 8
TheDualNatureoftheHumanPsyche 9
Nature–Nurture 10
ThePurposeandGoalsofLife 11
Happiness 12
Self-actualization 14
EllisAbandonsSelf-esteem 16
FindingHappiness:NoApologiesNeeded 17
2 WhyWeGetUnhappy 19
WhatisUnhappiness? 19
ThinkingMakesItSo 21
viii Contents
IrrationalThinking 22
IrrationalBeliefsthatCreateUnhappiness 25
TheStrengthofIrrationalConvictions 30
PeopleUpsetThemselvesAboutBeingUpset 35
3 RefusingtoBecomeDesperatelyUnhappy 41
TheDevelopmentofREBT 41
TheABCsofREBT 44
DisputingMethodsandNewRationalEffects 52
TheElegantSolution 63
FunandHumor 64
4 ThePhilosophyofHappiness:PrinciplesofRationalLiving 67
RationalPrinciple1:Self-interest 68
RationalPrinciple2:SocialInterest 70
RationalPrinciple3:Self-direction 70
RationalPrinciple4:Self-acceptance 71
RationalPrinciple5:ToleranceofOthers 73
RationalPrinciple6:Short-termandLong-termHedonism 74
RationalPrinciple7:CommitmenttoCreative,Absorbing
ActivitiesandPursuits 75
RationalPrinciple8:ResponsibleRisk-takingandExperimenting 78
RationalPrinciple9:HighFrustrationToleranceandWillpower 79
RationalPrinciple10:ProblemSolving 81
RationalPrinciple11:ScientificThinkingandFlexibility 83
TheRationalMindsetofaHappyandFulfilledPerson 84
5 Love 87
LoveSlobbism 88
RomanticLove 92
JealousyandPossessiveness 98
KeepingLoveAlive 103
