This document discusses how beliefs impact responses to stimuli. It provides examples of how the same activating event can lead to different emotions and behaviors depending on the underlying beliefs. The ABC model is introduced, where A is the activating event, B are the beliefs and thoughts, and C are the consequences in terms of emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors. Changing beliefs is suggested as a way to change responses to stimuli. The creation and transmission of beliefs through experiences, assumptions, and selective perception is also examined.

1. Beliefs
The impact on Stimulus and Response
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2. Which do you believe to be true or
has been suggested to you to be true (1)
1. It is absolute necessary to have love and approval from others almost
all the time.
2. We must be unfailingly competent and perfect in all we undertake.
3. People who harm me or commit misdeeds are evil, wicked and
villainous individuals, and I am right to blame and punish them.
4. It is horrible, terrible or catastrophic when things do not go the way I
want them to go.
5. External events cause most human misery, and I have little ability to
control my misery or to control my feelings or to rid myself of
depression, hostility and similar feelings.
6. I find it easier to avoid facing many of life's difficulties and self-
responsibilities than to undertake some form of self-discipline.
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3. Which do you believe to be true or
has been suggested to you to be true (2)
7. If something seems dangerous or fearsome, I become preoccupied
with and upset about it.
8. My past remains all-important, and because something once strongly
influenced my life, it will keep determining my feelings and behaviour
today.
9. People and things ought to turn out better than they do, and I must find
quick and good solutions to life's problems.
10. I can achieve happiness even by inertia and inaction or by passively
and uncommittedly ―enjoying yourself.‖
11. I need to have a high degree of order or certainty to feel comfortable.
12. My general self-worth and self-acceptance depends upon my
performance and the degree to which people approve of my actions.
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4. Emotions: to feel the physical (bodily) consequences of our
thoughts.
A friend is due to meet you for dinner at your house at 7:00. But it’s now
past 8:00, and there’s been no sign of her — not even a phone call. How
are you going to feel about this?
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5. 10 potential reactions to the same event
Thoughts Emotions
That idiot has no right to treat me badly – who does she think she is? Angry
This lack of consideration means that my partner doesn’t love me Depressed
This must mean that my partner is about to leave me for someone else Jealous
I don’t deserve to be treated poorly because I always do my best to be Hurt
considerate to my partner
I must have done something serious to upset my partner for her to treat Guilty
me like this
This inconsideration is a sign that my partner is losing interest in me Anxious
Aha! Now I have a good enough reason to break up with my partner, Happy
which I’ve been wanting to do for ages!
My partner has done a bad thing by treating me in this way, and I’m not Annoyed
prepared to put up with it
I really wish my partner had been more considerate because we’re Disappointed
usually highly considerate of each other
My partner must have found out something despicable about me to Ashamed
treat me in this way
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6. Beliefs Determine Response
Response 1
Emotions 1
Thoughts 1
Belief 1
Actions 1
Stimulus 1
Emotions 2
Belief 2 Thoughts 2
Actions 2
Response 2
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7. Desired response requires changing beliefs or changing stimulus
Both require understanding of current beliefs
Stimulus 2 2 Response 1
Emotions 1
Belief 1 Thoughts 1
Actions 1
2
Stimulus 1 1
Desired
Desired Desired Emotions
Belief Thoughts Desired
Actions
Desired Response
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8. You cannot elicit the same response from a group unless their
beliefs are same
Belief 1 Response 1
Belief 2 Response 2
Belief 3 Response 3
Stimulus
Belief 4 Response 4
Belief 5 Response 5
Belief 6 Response 6
Possible
Overriding common
belief response
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9. The creation of beliefs
Mental
New Belief
Models
Assumptions
(+) (-)
Old Beliefs
My Response
•Language Selective perception
•Thoughts
Stimulus •Memories •Emotions •Delete
•Decisions •Actions •Distort
Sensory
perception of •Meta-programs •Words and Deeds •Generalise
events •Values & Beliefs
•Attitudes Perceived
Response
Self Directed
Thoughts
Self Directed
Action
Externally
Directed
Action
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11. The Negative Thoughts Spiral
I did not do an excellent job in the assignment.
The professor will notice all the typos and the weak sections
He’ll feel that I did not care about it
I’ll be letting him down
I’ll get D or and F in the paper
That would ruin my academic record
Means I wasn’t the kind of student I was supposed to be
People will get angry at me. I would be a failure
Then I would be ostracised and alone
If I am alone, I am bound to be miserable
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12. The transmission of stimulus
Visual
Stimulus Auditory
Kinesthetic
Olfactory Cortical Cortex
Gustatory RAS Arousal (Thinking brain)
Long term memory
Fight-flight
Relaxation
Amygdala Hippocampus
Hypothalamus
(Emotional tags) Short term
(Homeostatis)
Unconscious memory memory &
Experiences
Limbic System
Beliefs
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13. ABC
Emotions:
•Healthy
feelings
Activating Beliefs &
•Unhealthy
Events: Thoughts:
feelings
•The world •Attitudes
•Physical
•Other people •Rules
sensations
•Personal •Demands
experience •Beliefs
•Future •Images
•Self •Meanings Behaviours:
•Constructive Action
•Destructive Action
Consequences
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14. An example of ABC
A: Potential girlfriend rejects you after the first date
B: ―This proves I’m unlikeable and undesirable‖
C: You experience depression (emotion)
A: Potential girlfriend rejects you after the first date
B: ―I guess that person didn’t like me that much; oh well – she’s not the
one for me‖
C: You experience disappointment (emotion)
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15. Another example of ABC
A: You imagine failing a job interview
B: ―I’ve got to make sure I don’t mess up this interview otherwise I will
prove that I am a failure‖
C: You experience anxiety (emotion), butterflies in your stomach
(physical sensation), drinking to calm your nerves (behaviour)
A: You fail in an interview
B: ―I should have done better. This means I am a failure.‖
C: You experience depression (emotion), loss of appetite (physical
sensation) and staying in bed and avoiding the external world
(behaviour)
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