Abstract
The present study investigated the relationship between endorsement of the 11 irrational beliefs described by Ellis (1962) and overt behavior by 27 emotionally disturbed and learning disabled children. Additional variables included were IQ, age, and months in treatment. Prior to involvement in the study all children received a standardized training program. Analysis indicated that knowledge of the therapy was directly correlated but not strongly with behavioral measures of self-reliance, control, and ability to take initiative in school situations. However, endorsement of the beliefs alone only predicts overt behavior (the child's willingness to blame external events for his problems) when the child's age was taken into account. Intelligence and months in treatment did not correlate with the behavioral demonstration of knowledge of the beliefs. Age appears to have specific bearing on the feasibility of using a cognitively based treatment as a psychotherapeutic intervention.
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