Which group of theorists is commonly associated with cognitive-behavior therapy?

• A. Freud
• B. Rogers
• C. Maslow
• D. Ellis, Beck, Meichenbaum

Answer: (D)

Cognitive-behavior therapy rests on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected, so changing maladaptive thinking can lead to changes in emotion and behavior. The theorists most closely tied to this approach are Ellis, Beck, and Meichenbaum. Ellis developed rational emotive behavior therapy, which targets irrational beliefs and helps clients dispute and replace them with more constructive thoughts. Beck created cognitive therapy, focusing on identifying cognitive distortions and automatic thoughts that drive distress, then restructuring those thoughts to produce healthier emotional responses. Meichenbaum contributed with cognitive-behavioral modification and self-instructional training, emphasizing coping self-talk and practical strategies to manage stress and behavior. Together, their work supports a structured, goal-oriented method that combines changing thinking with behavioral techniques, often using homework and behavioral experiments to build new skills. This approach differs from Freud’s psychoanalytic focus on unconscious conflicts and early experiences, and from Rogers’ and Maslow’s humanistic emphasis on growth and self-actualization, which are not centered on the same explicit cognitive-behavioral methods.