The ABC Model of Positive Feelings: A Preliminary Test

Abstract According to the ABC model of positive feelings, responding to positive activating events with irrational beliefs will result in dysfunctional positive feelings. Evidencing the role of irrational beliefs in dysfunctional positive feelings may have important clinical implications. However, no study has tested this model. Here, we tested the ABC model of positive feelings based on the REBT model of emotion. 115 participants had to imagine eight anticipatory positive situations. Then they reported how vividly they imagined the situations, and what they would believe and feel if they were in each situation. After that, they completed a hypomania scale, a general measure of positive irrational beliefs, and a general measure of irrational beliefs about adverse events. Results showed that situational positive primary irrational beliefs mediate the effect of vividness of imagining positive situations on dysfunctional positive feelings (b = 2.436, 95% CI: LL = 1.314 to UL = 3.832) while situational preferences mediated the effect of positive events on functional positive feelings (b = 0.642, 95% CI: LL = 0.165 to UL = 1.209). Moreover, the effect of positive primary irrational beliefs on dysfunctional positive feelings was mediated by secondary positive irrational beliefs such as positive intolerance (b = 3.826, 95% CI: LL = 0. 370; to UL = 7.740), and extreme self-valuing (b = 1. 330, 95% CI: LL = 0.287 to UL = 2.471) but not by wonderfulizing (b = 0.061, 95% CI: LL = −3.337 to UL = 3.298). Finding support for the ABC model of positive feelings and showing the role of irrational beliefs in dysfunctional and functional positive feelings may advance existing treatments for promoting mental health and reducing the disturbances of positive emotions.