ACE Health Coach Certification Practice Test

In cognitive behavioral therapy, a client's ____________ determine their behavior rather than external events.

1. Actions

2. Demographics

3. Attitudes

4. Beliefs

The correct answer is: Beliefs

In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the focus is on the idea that a person's beliefs play a crucial role in determining their behavior. This approach operates on the premise that it is not the external events themselves that dictate how individuals feel or act, but rather their interpretation of those events through their beliefs. For example, if a client believes that a situation is threatening, they might respond with anxiety or withdrawal. Conversely, if they view the same situation as a challenge, they may respond with motivation or engagement. This central tenet of CBT emphasizes that changing maladaptive beliefs can lead to changes in feelings and behaviors, making the exploration and revision of beliefs a primary goal in therapeutic interventions. Other concepts such as actions, demographics, and attitudes certainly have roles in a person's experience, but they do not capture the cognitive framework at the core of how CBT operates. Actions are the responses that stem from beliefs and attitudes, demographics relate to background information about a client, and attitudes can be influenced by underlying beliefs but do not fully encapsulate the cognitive processes emphasized in CBT.