Learned Optimism

An interesting read. The first 11 chapters discuss the need for optimism. It explains depression as a symptom of our increasingly individualistic self and provides some questionnaires to evaluate ones disposition to pessimistic or negative thoughts along a variety of examples from other people. I skimmed or skipped much of it, because I already know a lot about automatic negative thoughts and my own hang to distortion of reality by somewhat negative beliefs.

Luckily the last 4 chapters are a quick summary of the methods and techniques for which I started this book.

The core principle follows the ABCDE method developed by Albert Ellis for the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). The method handles all situations in the same way:

A (Adversity)

Identify the adversity that lead to pessimistic thinking

B (Belief)

Identify your belief

C (Consequences)

Notice the negative automatic thinking and the resulting consequences

D (Disputation)

Ask for evidence? alternatives? implications? usefulness?

E (Energization)

Be attentive to the change of emotion and energy, when rectifying your beliefs and earlier proposed consequences