1 Rational and Irrational Beliefs: A Historical and Conceptual Perspective

AbstractThis chapter traces the historical evolution of the constructs of rational and irrational beliefs and provides an overview of the empirical support and practical implications of contemporary models that have been proposed to define and understand rational and irrational beliefs. It defines irrational and rational beliefs and approach them in terms of (a) computational, algorithmic/representational, and implementational models of cognition; (b) the similarities and differences between rational and irrational beliefs and cold cognitions (e.g., automatic thoughts, expectancies, schemas); and (c) the place of rational and irrational beliefs in the broader skein of cognitive psychology and cognitive-behavior theory and therapy, as well as psychotherapy more generally.