What are the three disputing techniques used in REBT?

• A. Emotional, rational, and behavioral disputes
• B. Logical, empirical, and pragmatic disputes
• C. Cognitive, affective, and social disputes
• D. Temporal, spatial, and numerical disputes

Answer: (B)

In REBT, disputing beliefs is about challenging irrational ideas through three distinct routes. Logical disputes examine whether the belief follows from the facts and whether the conclusion would logically result from the premise. For example, if someone believes, “If I fail this test, I am worthless,” a logical dispute asks whether failing the test truly implies worthlessness or if it’s an overgeneralization. Empirical disputes look at the evidence for and against the belief in real, observable terms—what data or past experiences actually support or contradict it. Pragmatic disputes focus on usefulness and real-world consequences: does holding the belief improve functioning and reduce distress, or does it contribute to more problems and less effective behavior? Together, these three dispute types—logical, empirical, and pragmatic—form the core tools for REBT’s cognitive restructuring. The other options don’t align with REBT’s established disputing framework, since they mix concepts from different theories or refer to categories not used in REBT disputing.