Effects of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Academic Grit

• Published in: Journal of rational-emotive and cognitive-behavior therapy 2022-12, Vol.40 (4), p.857-878
• Main Authors: Sari, Suci Anggawati, Sugara, Gian Sugiana, Isti’adah, Feida Noorlaila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Behavior modification; Behavior therapy; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive ability; Community and Environmental Psychology; Education; Imagery; Intervention; Irrational beliefs; Perseveration; Psychiatry; Psychology; Public Health; Rational emotive behavior therapy; Reinforcement; Secondary schools; Self-efficacy; Selfmonitoring
• ISSN: 0894-9085; 1573-6563
• DOI: 10.1007/s10942-022-00444-4

Academic success has been studied about self-efficacy and cognitive abilities but one phenomenon that has received less attention is academic grit. Recent evidence suggests that reductions in irrational beliefs brought about by REBT can facilitate increased academic success. This paper reports the findings of a study that used an A–B–A single-case research design to investigate the effect of rational emotive behavior therapy on academic grit. Participants consisted of three students (N = 3) in vocational high schools who experienced a low level of grit. Rational emotive behavior therapy intervention to increase academic grit was provided in 6 sessions. Treatment focused on developing consistency of passion and perseverance using disputing irrational beliefs, tape-recorded examination of beliefs, rational-emotive imagery, time projection, self-monitoring, and behavior reinforcement. Participants completed the Student Grit Inventory. Data were collected before, during, and after the REBT intervention. The results showed an increase in the level of grit during and after the intervention. Thus, rational emotive behavior therapy could be an intervention to increase academic grit.