Assessment: “Best of the Century” By Albert Ellis

Psychotherapy that has been around for a few hundred years, within those years’ researches and technologies has help change modern psychotherapy from what it was in the past.


Major modification between modern psychotherapy and 19th century therapy are the therapist. In the past they were forced to be loyal to one thought, but presently most therapists blend treatments into their theory and apply them. I find this to be a major change because if therapists change it will lead to revolution on the therapy itself. Today millions of people attend psychotherapy sessions such as regular individual and group therapy, seminars, and workshops. Along with improvement in technology such as computer-assisted materials or self-help books widely accepted by experts, have become very successful and helpful. Onwards, in the 20th century advances international relationships have expanded in many countries. For therapists to cope with clients of different culture and background they must develop special methods; therefore Multicultural Therapy swiftly replaces one-culture attitude. Following, psychotherapy has encourages steps to other support groups that aid in the field of addictions. The therapy has reached many areas for instance education, business, and labor areas. Last but not least, the most common factor in psychotherapy today is religious and spiritual issue. Differently, in the past this factor has been rejected. Religious and spiritual issues are important part of human condition, emotional, and spiritual health. This delicate concern possibly will contribute much to helping people with trouble.


This article brings up 20 breakthroughs in psychotherapy, and I pick 5 that I find most important, and interesting.


Breakthrough #1: Martina Homer, this helped clarify the question of why men are more successful than women. The experiment show dramatic changes in performances between male and female in competitive situation. Participants are place in a close and separate room, where woman performs well, and scores higher on her tests. However, when you put the two people together, the man stands out, whereas woman becomes nervous.


Breakthrough #2: Harry F. Harlow’s research with monkeys showed that love and care from mother had major impacts on emotional and academic development. He also proved that females love their infants, but males tend to be uncaring or slightly abusive. Even though others find his research to be offensive because he interprets monkey behaviors to be similar to humans, but I agree with him. This research supports one of my beliefs that the reason humans do the things they do because of the impact of early day’s experiences.


Breakthrough #3: Robert Epstein demonstrates that “creativeness” is not mystical, but it’s an expansion of what you already know- it’s organized and predictable. Epstein came up with 4 techniques to boost creativity; capturing, challenging, broadening, and surrounding. I find this breakthrough important and interesting because it can be use as a source to help develop creativity in youngsters.


Breakthrough #4: Martin Seligman, the person who developed the theory of “learned helplessness.” His research showed that unconditional punishment has major impact on emotions and cause of depression. Again Seligman’s findings confirm part of my beliefs that childhood experiences can influence who you are and what you do.


Breakthrough #5: Hans Selye, the first researcher to identify “stress.” His laboratory research showed that the body responds to stress in very specific way, and the foundation of understanding the stress plays a part in illness, mood, and performances. I agree with Selye when he mention that “our aim shouldn’t be completely avoid stress, but learn how to cope and live with it.