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Showing posts from February, 2012

Musting Oughting and Shoulding

‘Musturbation’ is a term coined by Dr Albert Ellis to describe absolutist, black and white thinking/believing. Musturbatory thinking according to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy theory is the kind of thinking that gives rise to extreme frustration anger and depression. This kind of thinking drives the unhealthy choices we are teaching our students about. The following habits of thinking are musturbatory: • I absolutely must get what I want (or not get what I don’t want) • Significant others must treat me well and do my bidding • Life should be easy If these absolutist demands are not being met then: • Life is so awful and I can’t stand it! It sucks! • People who behave shitily are shits! • When I behave shitily I am a shit! Musturbators will blame others and events for how they feel e.g. I only got an A- (perfectionistic leanings – I must be perfect), maths makes me angry (life must be easy), she didn’t let me join and she’s/life’s a shit (people/life must treat me ...