Rational belief: pleasant activating event. The A-B-C theory of personality functions
well and, for most people, goes unnoticed when the activating events are
pleasant. When Kelly receives an A on her psychology exam (activating event),
her belief (B) in her ability to do well on the psychology exam and to become a psychologist
is supported. The consequence is an emotional experience of pleasure and
a behavioral anticipation of the next psychology examination, an activating event.