Effect Of Cognitive Restructuring And Shaping Techniques In Handling Lateness To School Among Secondary School Students

Rational Emotive Theory of Albert Ellis
Rational Emotive Theory (RET) of Albert Ellis was developed in 1953. He later changed RET to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) (Hayes, 1994). He was of the opinion that human beings have problems due to the way they perceive an event or situation (Okoye, 2007). People form illogical, irrational thinking patterns that become the cause of both their negative emotions and further irrational ideas (internet resources, 2007). Ellis as cited in Hayes argued that these ideas tend to fall into three major groups:
1    The idea that the person must do well and win other peoples approval,
2    That other people absolutely must act considerately and fairly towards that person at all times and
3    That the world in which they live should always be an absolutely fair and un-frustrating place.
These ideas are totally unrealistic and are also illogical and self-defeating leading to psychological problem (Hayes). The rational emotive behaviour theory thus focuses on helping patients discover these irrational beliefs that guide their behaviour and replace them with rational belief and thoughts in order to relieve their emotional distress (Internet Resources, 2007).
Self Instructional Theory of Cognitive Restructuring
Self-instructional or “self talk” approach was pioneered by Donald Meichenbaum in the 1970s. This approach focuses on changing what people say to themselves, both internally and out loud. It is based on the belief that an individual’s action is followed directly from self-talk (Internet Resources, 2007). This therapy emphasizes teaching patients coping skills that they can use in a variety of situations to help themselves.
From these approaches, it thus follows that cognitive therapy (cognitive restructuring) emphasizes the role of cognitive in maladaptive behaviour or dysfunctional behaviour - the principle that irrational and illogical thinking as well as what man says to himself lead to deviation from what should be an adaptive behaviour. “Self talk” or internalized sentences are products of repeated ideas or thinking, and are all traceable to one’s entrenched beliefs (Uba, 1989).
This cognitive restructuring theory holds that your own unrealistic beliefs are directly responsible for generating dysfunctional emotions and their resultant behaviours (Internet Resources, 2007). The theory takes the view that it is how we perceive things which determines how we act towards them that abnormal behaviour occurs because the individual has distorted perception and these affect the person’s behaviour in ways which are maladaptive or damaging (Hayes, 1994). It assumes that maladaptive behaviour and disturbed mood or emotions are results of inappropriate or irrational thinking patterns (Internet Resources, 2007). Even though man is generally rational, the theory believes that man can develop irrational beliefs and neurotic behaviours as a result of social and genetic influences (Uba, 1989).
It further explains that emotional and psychological problems people have are a result of their irrational and illogical thinking, and also self-defeating talk. As long as one continues to say negative thing to himself either internally or out loud and thinks illogically and irrationally he will continue to exhibit maladaptive behaviours that cause him problem in life. It thus follows that an individual’s actions follows directly from self-talk, illogical and irrational thinking.
Instead of reacting to the reality of a situation, an individual automatically reacts to his or her own distorted viewpoint of the situation, a function of irrational thinking pattern called automatic thought. In some cases, some people (patients) may have certain fundamental core beliefs called schemas, which are flawed and therefore require modification (Internet Resources, 2007).
Having established how maladaptive behaviours are acquired, the theory further established how to handle people with maladaptive behaviours. It holds that clients (patients) unrealistic beliefs, which are directly responsible for generating functional and resultant behaviours can be rid of by dismantling the belief that gave them life (Internet Resources 2007). The clients are made to understand that their irrational and illogical thought, and also what they say to themselves results to their maladaptive behaviour. This is achieved through cognitive re-orientation (Ellis as cited in Uba, 1989). In re-orienting this client, attempt is made at proving him/her with sufficient knowledge about the issue or subject that is to be substituted.   At the end the client is helped to:
1.    Gain awareness of detrimental habit.
2.    Learn to change them.
3.    Substitute    life    enhancing    thought    and    beliefs (Internet Resource, 2007).