Albert Ellis (1957, 1962) proposed that everyone holds a unique set of assumptions about ourselves and the world that guides us through life and determines our reactions to various situations. Some people's assumptions are largely irrational. This leads them to reacting and acting inappropriately. Ellis calls these 'basic irrational assumptions'.
According to Ellis, these 'basic irrational assumptions are:
• The idea that one should be thoroughly competent at everything
• The idea that is it catastrophic when things are not the way you want them to be
• The idea that people have no control over their happiness
• The idea that you need someone stronger than yourself to be dependent on
• The idea that your past history greatly influences your present life
• The idea that there is a perfect solution to human problems, and it’s a disaster if you don’t find it.