Musturbation refers to which belief?

• A. The belief that there are musts, shoulds, and oughts
• B. A belief in absolute certainty about events
• C. A belief that all behavior is determined by instincts
• D. A belief that cognitive distortions are permanent

Answer: (A)

Musturbation is a term from Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy that names the belief that life must follow strict rules and that people must, above all else, behave in a perfectly orderly way. It centers on rigid demands using words like must, have to, should, and ought to. When reality doesn’t meet these demands, a person experiences disproportionate frustration, anger, or guilt. So the belief described is that there are musts, shoulds, and oughts governing events and behavior, and deviations from these demands cause distress. The other ideas describe different concepts—absolute certainty about events, behavior determined by instincts, or cognitive distortions being permanent—not the specific rigid “must” framework highlighted by musturbation.