  This work focuses on the thermodynamics of pseudo-elastic models which
represent the Mullins effect. Two established models are analyzed
theoretically, their thermomechanical properties are derived, and certain
critical points are identified. These findings are used to deduce an
alternative approach to deviate pseudo-elasticity. This is achieved by defining
a suitable free energy which imposes conditions on the stress tensor and the
dissipation using the Clausius-Duhem inequality. The concept of
pseudo-elasticity is then generalized to extend arbitrary thermomechanical,
even inelastic, material models to allow for softening effects. Under weak
assumptions on the softening function the thermomechanical consistency is
shown.
