Irrational Beliefs and Response Sets

Abstract

Ellis (2) proposed that emotional disturbances are primarily caused by the implicit assumption of certain cognitions together with self-indoctrination. Diagnosed neurotics tend endorse more of these than do undiagnosed individuals (4). Also, there seems be a greater likelihood of church-attending men (but not church-attending women) acknowledge these than do those who are nonattenders (3). This church attendance-gender association with ideas suggests that these belief statements (when unlabeled as such) might be perceived as propositions with which agreement is seen as desirable. Sixty-four male and 95 female students enrolled in general psychology classes responded the list of Ellis' under two response sets: one set had the individual express his and the other set had him respond in a way to make the most The mean number of checked by men under the own opinion set was 2.97 (SD = 1.81) and that by women was 2.62 (SD = 1.60); gender differences in these means were nonsignificant (t~sr = 1.29). On the other hand, men checked more of these ideas than did women when responding under the favorable impression set (CIS, = 3.12, < .01); the means were 5.14 (SD = 2.77) and 3.81 (SD = 2.53), respectively. Significantly more were endorsed by both sexes under the favorable impression set; tlm = 6.18 (p < .001) for men and t~ss = 4.64 (p < .001) for women. People who endorsed more on the own opinion set tended also endorse more of these on the favorable impression set; r = .277 for men (df = 62, p < .05) and .340 for women (df = 93, p < .01). Apparently, these statemena designated by Ellis (2) as irrational beliefs have a strong positive valence as socially desirable opinions, possibly due their definiteness. This may have in turn some implications for psychotherapy using a rational-emotive approach. Also, the gender differences under the favorable impression set may be a consequence of a perception held by many of the men chat making unequivocal statements reflecting their opinions or can further a impression. Over-all sex differences in the social desirability motive do exist (1); these results suggest moreover that men and women may perceive somewhat different effects when one's opinions are used as devices for eliciting positive impressions. Alternatively, the sexes may in general have different perceptions regarding belief norm.