Final answer:
According to Ellis, most of our problems are attributed to 'musts' such as Irrational beliefs, which are rigid and unrealistic standards that lead to emotional distress. Overcoming these musts involves rational thinking and self-examination to develop more coherent belief systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Ellis, most of our problems are due to "musts" such as Irrational beliefs. These are the rigid and often unrealistic standards that we impose on ourselves and others which can lead to significant emotional distress when they are not met. Ellis's approach highlights the importance of rational thinking and the dangers of cognitive dissonance, which can cause discomfort due to a disruption of consistency in our belief systems. The process of recognizing and correcting these irrational beliefs involves engaging in critical self-examination to establish more coherent and rational belief systems which better serve our understanding of life and our interactions within it.
Motivated reasoning
This is the human tendency to embrace ideas that we want to believe while rejecting evidence that challenges those beliefs, playing a significant role in how we form and maintain our belief systems, often leading to self-perpetuating cycles of irrational thinking.