[Irrational beliefs and mental health].

Abstract

The aim of the study was to present the problem area of psychological health from the point of view of the rational-emotive theory and therapy, which in our cultural context is still one of the less known and not broadly accepted theoretical and applicable cognitive-behavioral approaches to disorders of psychological health. This theory emphasizes primarily the cognitive cause of emotional problems but also the personal responsibility of an individual for maintaining health-damaging thought habits, schemas and empirically unverifiable irrational beliefs, if one is uncritically and rigidly holding on to them. Substituting them more rational personal life philosophies and attitudes, based on objective and correctly perceived reality mediates adequate, functional behaviors and leads to healthy emotional consequences. This is a reason why the basic criteria of rational thinking and behaving (discussed in the study) can be thought in terms of a support psychological health and also in terms of prevention of psychological disturbances.