Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of irrational language with clinical and nonclinical subjects

Recent formulations of rational-emotive theory posit a four-factor stylistic model of irrational thinking. These factors include Demandingness, Awfulizing, I-Can't-Stand-It-Itis, and Self-Damnation. This study involved a semantic analysis of 16 linguistic variates hypothesized by Ellis and Dryden (1987) and frequently used in clinical practice to represent the four factors. Four variations of a 6-point, Likert-type questionnaire were developed to tap the four factors and the linguistic variates. Subjects were 260 university students and 150 clinical patients, who completed either all four variations (one variation every 2 weeks over a 6-week period) or a single variation only. Confirmatory factor analyses generally failed to support the four-factor model. Exploratory factor analyses suggested that a general factor of irrationality may exist in clinical populations.