Question

Write short notes on the following:

Importance of Rationality

Answer 1

Being a science, psychology tries to establish laws that govern human behavior, at the same time it accepts the fact that human behavior is dynamic and complex. Some of our behaviors are commonly seen in others at the same time some of our behaviors are exclusive.

Attaining happiness is man’s greatest aim in life. While achieving this aim, every individual feels, thinks and acts exclusively. But while being happy one should see to it that one’s emotions, thoughts and acts do not get driven by irrational influences and one should not compromise on social norms, values and ethics for being happy. Here the aspect of rationality comes in picture in psychology.

Stanovich and his colleagues while talking about rationality stated that, “Rationality involves adaptive reasoning, good judgement and good decision making.”

Sternberg and his colleagues while talking about intelligence suggested that Practical Intelligence can be defined as “the ability to perform successfully in naturalistic settings in a way that is consistent with one’s goal.”

Dr. Albert Ellis who proposed Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (one of the effective and popular method of intervention in the field of counselling psychology) has given values of rational living. He also says that rational people are psychologically healthy people and they possess certain characteristics.

1. Understanding Self-Interest and Social-Interest: ‘Safeguard your self-interest and know others interest’ is almost like a slogan of Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. Rational people understand what is selfpromoting and what helps them to grow and they take responsibility of making those choices but at the same time take care of not violating other person’s rights and aid in survival of the society in which they live.
2. Self Direction: Rational people assume primary responsibility for their own lives rather than demanding or needing excessive support or nurturance from others.
3. Tolerance: Rational people are highly tolerant. Tolerance is the willingness to accept behavior and beliefs of others that are different from one's own. Similarly, rational people accept one’s own and others’ right to be wrong.
4. Flexibility: Rational people are found to be healthy individuals. Rational people tend to be flexible, unbiased in their thoughts and actions.
5. Self Acceptance and Self Responsibility: Rational people accept themselves unconditionally rather than rating or proving themselves and also accept responsibility for their own thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behavior.

According to Dr. Albert Ellis, rationality as a personal philosophy helps an individual to attain many goals in life and to be happy. For being happy a person must BE RATIONAL. This concept is explained with the help of the following table :

B(Balance)	Balance between self-interest and interest of others.
E(Estimate)	Estimate the time, efforts, gains and losses.
R(Respect)	Respect oneself and others.
A(Affiliate)	Affiliate with others.
T(Tolerate)	Tolerate oneself and others.
I(Intergrate)	Integrate personal wellbeing with social wellbeing.
O(Optimize)	Optimize potential fully.
N(Navigate)	Navigate path of success.
A(Accept)	Accept the limitations and overcome them.
L(Live)	Live life fully.