Adaptive and Maladaptive Emotions and Behavior

[DISCLAIMER]

When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I find it useful to discuss concepts which are accepted due to common knowledge (something that many or most people know). Often, what one presumes to know isn’t truly known by others.

According to one source, regarding game theory, common knowledge may be described as “the idea that something is not merely known by all the players in the game, but is also known to be known, known to be known to be known, and so on ad infinitum.” Allow me to explain.

I know about consequences of beliefs. I conclude that you know about these outcomes. As I believe you know what I know, I don’t elaborate on what I mean by consequences of beliefs. Meanwhile, you may not know what I know. Thus, you have no clue as to what I actually mean.

Given how information which may be incorrectly perceived as common could deprive you of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding about REBT, discussing concepts may therefore be helpful. Specifically, it may be of some use to elaborate on the two major tools used by REBT.

First, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This is known as self-disturbance.

The outcomes of mental scripts tend to manifest in the form of additional thoughts and beliefs (cognitions), feelings (emotions and sensations), and actions (behaviors). Noteworthy, there’s a distinction between consequential distress and disturbance, as one REBT source states (page 71):

REBT conceptualizes [distress] as healthy even though it is intense. Other approaches to therapy have as their goal the reduction of the intensity of negative emotions. They take this position because they do not keenly differentiate between healthy negative emotions (distress) and unhealthy negative emotions (disturbance).

Now, REBT keenly distinguishes between healthy distress and unhealthy disturbance. Healthy distress stems from your rational beliefs about a negative activating event, whilst disturbance stems from your irrational beliefs about the same event.

For instance, if your loved one dies and you believe that the loss is unfortunate, then you may experience healthy distress (e.g., sadness, crying, etc.). Alternatively, if you believe the loss is unbearable, then you may endure unhealthy disturbance (e.g., depression, suicide attempts, etc.).

In this regard, it’s worth expounding upon the distinction between the terms adaptation and maladaptation. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), adaptation is defined as follows:

[M]odification to suit different or changing circumstances. In this sense, the term often refers to behavior that enables an individual to adjust to the environment effectively and function optimally in various domains, such as coping with daily stressors.

Healthy adjustment to the death of a loved one involves productive narratives about the impermanence and uncertainty of life. After all, each and every person will die. Dissimilarly, unproductive perspectives may result in maladaptation which the APA thusly defines:

[A] condition in which biological traits or behavior patterns are detrimental, counterproductive, or otherwise interfere with optimal functioning in various domains, such as successful interaction with the environment and effectual coping with the challenges and stresses of daily life.

Noteworthy, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to self-distress or self-disturb: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive beliefs, think of the acronym GLAD.

Additionally, from a psychological standpoint, people distress and disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

Here, context is needed. Years ago, I wore a lot of Ecko Unltd. apparel (an urban fashion company founded by Marc Ecko in 1993). I was such a supporter of the brand that I acquired the hip hop album Underground Airplay (2013) which was affiliated with Ecko’s company.

When recently searching the online Epstein files, I found that Marc Ecko’s name was discoverable in the digital documentation. It appears as though Ecko’s company was vaguely referenced, as there’s no indication of moral, ethical, or legal wrongdoing. (None!)

Strictly for the sake of illustration, suppose I didn’t practice REBT when discovering Ecko’s name in the files. This discovery (Action) wouldn’t cause maladaptive emotions and behaviors in the form of anger, disgust, defaming Ecko online, or punching a wall (Consequence).

Rather, upon the discovery (Action) while unhelpfully Believing, “Ecko is garbage [G], I can’t stand that I supported his company [L], because he’s terrible [A], and I never should’ve worn Ecko Unltd. gear [D],” I’d endure maladaptive emotions and behaviors (Consequence).

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

Second, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering—whether distressed or disturbed. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

Whereas the ABC model is a scientific approach to wellness, UA serves as a philosophical method for un-disturbing yourself. I view the former as an abortive approach to disturbance and the latter as a preventative method. Of course, not all REBT practitioners use the same style as I.

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Maintaining the same hypothetical scenario regarding Marc Ecko, I could stop to consider that the only thing I can control is my reaction to his name being in the Epstein files (USA). Even if he was involved in torrid affairs related to Epstein, Ecko is merely a fallible human (UOA).

Furthermore, there wouldn’t be anything I could do to control or influence the unalterable past (ULA). Given a healthy UA perspective, there’d be no logical reason for maladaptive emotions and behaviors in the form of anger, disgust, defaming Ecko online, or punching a wall.

Instead, considering this made-up scenario, I could instead adaptively settle for healthy distress in the form of frustration, annoyance, or disappointment regarding Ecko’s name appearing in the Epstein files. This would likely involve some degree of shrugging and carrying on with life.

This is a method of rational living, and it’s not necessarily common knowledge as to how one can un-distress or un-disturb in this manner. Now, I invite you to consider practice of the ABC model and UA so that you can choose adaptive versus maladaptive emotions and behavior.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Maladaptation. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/maladaptation

Brandenburger, A. and Dekel, E. (n.d.). The role of common knowledge assumptions in game theory. Northwestern University. Retrieved from https://cet.econ.northwestern.edu/dekel/pdf/role-of-common-knowledge-assumptions-in-game-theory.pdf

Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2006). Rational emotive behaviour therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge. Retrieved from https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/4b0e2552-2a18-4998-b44f-3a993148f7ac/downloads/REBT%202.pdf?ver=1627365797554

Genius. (n.d.). Underground Airplay (2013). Retrieved from https://genius.com/albums/Ecko-unltd/Underground-airplay-2013

Hollings, D. (2024, May 22). A philosophical approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-philosophical-approach-to-mental-health

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance

Hollings, D. (2026, February 7). Master of my own domain. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/master-of-my-own-domain

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude

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Hollings, D. (2024, July 18). REBT flexibility. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-flexibility

Hollings, D. (2023, February 17). Revisiting the circle of control. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/revisiting-the-circle-of-control

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Hollings, D. (2023, September 6). The absence of suffering. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-absence-of-suffering

Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection

Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection

Hollings, D. (2025, October 22). The construct. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-construct

Hollings, D. (2022, November 2). The critical A. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-critical-a

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