Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Positive Illusions of Well-Being and Irrationality: Implications for Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy

  • Published:
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present manuscript attempts to integrate Taylor & Amor (1996) and Taylor & Brown's (1988) formulation regarding positive illusions and well-being within the context of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT). It is argued that while positive illusions may be functional in promoting psychological well-being, extreme forms of positive illusions are based on underlying irrational processes characterized by positive and negative distortions in thinking. The long-term consequences of pervasive and persistent self-deception strategies are argued to depend on level of self-deception. Extreme forms of positive illusions reflect irrational processes that can interfere with the development of a mature, healthy view of self. Implications for the practice of REBT are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Abramson, L.Y., & Alloy, L.B. (1981). Depression, non-depression, and cognitive illusions: A reply to Schwarz. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 110, 436-447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R.F. (1989). The optimal margin of illusion. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8(2), 176-189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., & Weishaar, M. (1989). Cognitive therapy. In Freeman, A., Simon, K.M., Beutler, L.E., & Arkowitz, H., (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of cognitive therapy(pp. 21-36). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckham, E.E., & Watkins, J. T. (1989). Process and outcome in cognitive therapy. In Freeman, A., Simon, K.M., Beutler, L.E., & Arkowitz, H., (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of cognitive therapy(pp. 61-81). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, M.E. (1995). It's prime time for rational emotive behavior therapy: Current theory and practice, research recommendations, and predictions. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 13(1), 9-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J., & Colvin, C.R., (1994). Positive illusions and well-being revisited: Separating fiction from fact. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colvin, C.R., & Block, J. (1994). Do positive illusions foster mental health? An examination of the Taylor and Brown formulation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 3-20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colvin, C.R., Block, J., & Funder, D.C. (1995). Overly positive self-evaluations and personality: Negative implications for mental health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1152-1162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Compton, W.C. (1992). Are positive illusions necessary for self-esteem: A research. note. Personality and Individual Differences, 13(12), 1343-1344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crocker, J. (1982). Biased questions in judgment of covariation studies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 9214-220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Colvin, C.R., Pavot, W.G., & Allman, A. (1991). The psychic costs of intense positive affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 492-503.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe, R. (1996). The nature of irrational and rational beliefs: Progress in rational emotive behavior theory. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 14(1), 5-29.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe, R., & Linscott, J. (1993). Philosophical differences among cognitive behavioral therapists: Rationalism, constructivism, or both? Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 7(20), 117-130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, W. (Ed.). (1990). The essential Albert Ellis: Seminal writings on psychotherapy.New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, W. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy: Thirty years on. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 12(2), 83-99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn. D.S. (1994). Positive meaning and illusions following disability: Reality negotiation, normative interpretation and value change. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 9(5), 123-138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, D., & Story, A. L. (1991). Depression, realism, and the overconfidence effect: Are the sadder wiser when predicting future actions and events? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(4), 521-532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A., (1973). Humanistic psychotherapy.New York: Crown Publishers and McGraw-Hill Paperbacks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1987). The impossibility of achieving consistently good mental health. American Psychologist, 42(4), 364-375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1991). The revised ABC's of rational-emotive therapy (RET). Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 9(3), 139-172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1992). First-order and second-order change in rational-emotive therapy: A reply to Lyddon. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 449-451

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1993a). Reflections on rational-emotive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 199-201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1993b). Constructivism and rational-emotive therapy: A critique of Richard Wessler's critique. Psychotherapy, 30(3), 531-532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1996). Responses to criticisms of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) by Ray Digiuseppe, Frank Bond, Windy Dryden, Steve Weinrach, and Richard Wessler. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 14(2), 97-121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A.E. (1999). Early theories and practices of rational emotive behavior therapy and how they have been augmented and revised during the last three decades. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 17(2), 69-93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A., & Dryden, W. (1997). The Practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy(2nd. Ed). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falbo, T., Poston, D. L. Jr., Triscari, R.S., & Zhang, X. (1997). Self-enhancing illusions among Chinese school children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 28(2), 172-191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, S.T., & Taylor, S.E. (1984). Social Cognition.Ma: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowers, B.J., Lyons, E.M., & Montel, K.H. (1996). Positive marital illusions: Self-enhancement or relationship enhancement? Journal of Family Psychology, 10(2), 192-208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, A., (1987). Cognitive therapy: An overview. In Freeman, A., & Greenwood, V. (Eds.), Cognitive therapy: Applications in psychiatric and medical Settings.New York: Human Sciences Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haaga, D.A.F., & Davison, G.C. (1993). An appraisal of rational-emotive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 215-220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, C., & Jourden, F.J. (1997). Illusion, disillusion, and the buffering effects of groups. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 69(2), 103-116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Himelein M.J., & McElrath, A.V. (1996). Resilient child sexual abuse survivors: Cognitive coping and illusion. Child Abuse & Neglect, 20(8), 747-758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jopling, D.A. (1996). “Take away the life-lie :::”: positive illusions and creative self-deception. Philosophical Psychology, 9(4), 525-544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschenbaum, D.S., O'Connor, E.A., & Owens, D. (1999). Positive illusions in golf: Empirical and conceptual analyses. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11(1), 1-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R.S. (1995). Cognition and emotion from the RET viewpoint. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 13(1), 29-54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyddon, W.J. (1992). A rejoinder to Ellis: What is and is not RET? Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 452-454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyddon, W.J. (1995). Cognitive therapy and theories of knowing: A social constructionist view. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73, 579-585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macinnis, F.H. (1999). The relationship between positive illusions and mental health: Real or illusory? Dissertation Abstracts International, 59(7-B), 3701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazur, E., Wolchik, S.A., & Sandler, I.N. (1992). Negative cognitive errors and positive illusions for negative divorce events: Predictors of children's psychological adjustment. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 20(6), 523-542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazur, E., Wolchik, S.A., Virdin, L., Sandler, I.N., & West, S.G. (1999). Cognitive moderators of children's adjustment to stressful divorce events: The role of negative cognitive errors and positive illusions. Child Development, 70(1), 231-245.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenna, F.P., & Myers, L.B. (1997). Illusory self-assessments-can they be reduced? British Journal of Psychology, 88, 39-51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merluzzi, T.V., & Martinez Sanchez, M.A. (1997). Perceptions of coping behaviors by persons with cancer and health care providers. Psycho-Oncology, 6(3), 197-203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D.T., & Ross, M. (1975). Self-serving biases in attribution of causality: Fact or fiction? Psychological Bulletin, 82, 213-225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, M.J. (1989). The importance of holding on to illusions. Counseling and Values, 33, 146-151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, D.A., Kurtzberg, T., Fox, C.R., & Bazerman, M.H. (1999). Positive illusions and forecasting errors in mutual fund investment decisions. Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes, 79(2), 95-114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, S.L. (1999). The quest for conviction: Motivated cognition in romantic relationships. Psychological Inquiry, 10(1), 23-34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, S.L., & Holmes, J.G. (1997). A leap of faith? Positive illusions in romantic relationships. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(6), 586-604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, S.L., Holmes, J.G., & Griffin, D.W. (1996a). The self-fulfilling nature of positive illusions in romantic relationships: Love is not blind, but prescient. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(6), 1155-1180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, S.L., Holmes, J.G., & Griffin, D.W. (1996b). The benefits of positive illusions: Idealization and the construction of satisfaction in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(1), 70-98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, L.B., & Brewin, C.R. (1996). Illusions of well-being and the repressive coping style. British Journal of Social Psychology, 35, 443-457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, G.M., Taylor, S.E., & Kemeny, M.E. (1993). Perceived control and psychological adjustment in gay men with AIDS. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23(10), 791-824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, G.M., Kemeny, M.E., Taylor, S.E., Hui-Ying, J.W., & Visscher, B.R. (1994). Realistic acceptance as a predictor of decreased survival time in gay men with AIDS. Health Psychology, 13(4), 299-307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, C. (1961). On becoming a person.Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruehlman, L.S., West, S.G., & Pasahow, R.J. (1985). Depression and evaluative schemata. Journal of Personality, 53, 46-92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, R.A., & McMahon, J. (1997). Identity and constructivism: Grounding the self in rational emotive behavior therapy. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 15(1), 31-47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shedler, J., Mayman, M., & Manin, M. (1993). The illusion of mental health. American Psychologist, 48(11), 1117-1131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shedler, J., Mayman, M., & Manis, M. (1994). More illusions. American Psychologist, 49(11), 974-976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepperd, J.A., Ouellette, J.A., & Fernandez, J.K. (1996). Abandoning unrealistic optimism: Performance estimates and the temporal proximity of self-relevant feedback. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(4), 844-855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swann, W.S., Jr., Silvera, D.H., & Proske, C.U. (1995). Dangerous illusions in the age of AIDS? Personal Relationships, 2(3), 173-186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., (1983). Adjustment to threatening events: A theory of cognitive adaptation. American Psychologist, 38, 1161-1173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Armor, D.A., (1996). Positive illusions and coping with adversity. Journal ofPersonality, 64(4), 873-898.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Brown, J.D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 103(2), 193-210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Brown, J.D. (1994a). Positive illusions and well-being revisited: Separating fact from fiction. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 21-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Brown, J.D. (1994b). “Illusion” of mental health does not explain positive illusions. American Psychologist, 49(11), 972-973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., Collins, R.L., & Skokan, L.A. (1989). Maintaining positive illusions in the face of negative information: Getting the facts without letting them get to you. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8(2), 114-127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S.E., & Gollwitzer, P.M. (1995). Effects of mindset on positive illusions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(2), 213-226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walen, S.R., DiGiuseppe, R., & Wessler, R.L. (1992). A practitioner's guide to rational-emotive therapy(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, A. (1999). Positive illusions: An examination of the unrealistically positive views parents hold of their children and of the parenting experience. Dissertation Abstracts International, 59(9-B), 5130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessler, R.L. (1992). Constructivism and rational-emotive therapy: A critique. Psychotherapy, 29(4), 620-625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessler, R.L. (1993). A reply to Ellis's critique of Wessler's critique of rational-emotive Therapy. Psychotherapy, 30(30), 533-534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessler, R.L. (1996). Idiosyncratic definitions and unsupported hypotheses: Rational emotive behavior therapy as pseudoscience. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 14(1), 41-61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrangham, R. (1999). Is military incompetence adaptive? Evolution & Human Behavior, 20(1), 3-17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., & Knee, R.C. (1996). The relation between overly positive self-evaluation and adjustment: A comment on Colvin, Block, and Funder. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(6), 1250-1251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., Knee, C.R., Kietter, S.C., Rawsthorne, L., & Bruce, L. M. (1996). Beliefs in realistic and unrealistic control: Assessment and implications. Journal of Personality, 64(2), 435-464.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Andrew Kinney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kinney, A. Positive Illusions of Well-Being and Irrationality: Implications for Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 30, 401–415 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010235620775

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010235620775

Search

Navigation