Roush’s Core Irrational Beliefs & Intense Feelings
& Maladaptive Behaviors Associated with Each

“You Stink!” thinking (e.g., “It’s all your fault!”)

• Typically leads to feelings of anger
• Antisocial behaviors
• Physical and/or verbal aggression with or without provocation
• Truancy and/or chronic tardiness
• Lying
• Stealing
• Cheating
• Swearing
• Destruction of property
• “Spiteful” behavior
• Off task
• Doesn’t do schoolwork
• Noncompliant
• Teases or makes fun of others

“I Stink!” thinking (e.g., “It’s all my fault!”)

• Feelings of anxiety
• Attention-seeking behaviors
• Needs attention of others to validate his work
• Noncompliance and/or does not complete assignments
• Performance anxiety; fear of failure
• Submissive/passive behaviors
• Allows self to be bullied and/or manipulated
• Difficulty handling criticism

“Fairy Tale” thinking (e.g., “It’s not fair when things don’t go as I want them to.”)

• Feelings of anger
• Noncompliance (if she feels she should not have to follow a given direction or rule)
• Physical and/or verbal aggression (directed at any individual who does not behave according to his “rules”)
• Tattling
• Rule violations (“Rules are made to be broken;” “Rules are for the other guy.”)
• Tantrums (to get her own way)

“Namby-Pamby” thinking (e.g., “I can’t stand it!”)

• Feelings of anxiety
• Off task (too upset to pay attention)
• Attention-seeking (needs reassurance that things are OK) behavior
• Tattling
• Being disruptive
• Tantrums (to express anxiety or get assistance)
• Noncompliant (some things are too scary to try)

“Doomsday” thinking (e.g., “Everything is always going to be bad.”)

• Feelings of depression
• Off task (often preoccupied with negative thoughts)
• Withdrawn and socially isolated
• Too sad, worried, or anxious to interact with others
• Rejected by peers because it’s not reinforcing to initiate contact with him
• Noncompliant (lacks energy to try things)

“Robot” thinking (e.g., “It’s not my fault!”)

An external locus of control (a perception that she has little or no control over what happens to her and that her emotions and behaviors – “good” or “bad” are caused by others)

• Feelings of anxiety (when experiencing events that are threatening)
• Anger or depression
• Noncompliant (apathy; “Why bother?---nothing I do makes a difference”)
• Verbally and/or physically aggressive (attributes blame to external source)
• Gives up when frustrated (“If I can’t do it, it’s because it’s too hard.”)