What is the function of irrational beliefs in REBT and how can disputing them help?

• A. They fuel emotional distress; disputing them replaces with rational beliefs, reducing distress and improving functioning.
• B. They have no effect on mood
• C. They cause physical diseases
• D. They are always accurate

Answer: (A)

In REBT, irrational beliefs are what generate and maintain emotional distress. When people interpret events with rigid, absolute thoughts—like “I must be perfect” or “things must go my way”—the emotional and behavioral impact becomes amplified. Disputing these beliefs challenges their validity and usefulness. Through logical, empirical, and pragmatic questioning, a person learns to replace them with more rational, flexible beliefs that fit reality. This shift reduces the intensity of negative emotions and supports better functioning because responses become based on what actually happened and what can reasonably be done.

For example, swapping “I must always succeed” for “I’d like to succeed, but a setback isn’t catastrophic; I can learn and keep going” typically lowers distress and promotes constructive action. The idea that beliefs don’t affect mood or that they’re always accurate isn’t consistent with REBT, which holds that mood and behavior largely follow from the beliefs we hold about events.