Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive Distortions
Cognitive distortions are exaggerated or irrational thinking patterns, often negative,that can distort your perception of reality. They’re also called “distorted thinking’or” thinking traps’ or ‘twisted thinking. These are biased thoughts about yourself, others, and the world. Cognitive distortions negatively skew your interpretation of reality, which can cause, amplify, and reinforce negative moods. Cognitive distortions are … Read more
Labeling
Taking one characteristic of a person and applying it to the whole person. Attributing a person’s behaviors to their character or personality rather than thinking it’stemporary or just for one event. A person who labels takes all-or-nothing thinking to an extreme level, where in addition to blaming oneself or others, they will also attach a … Read more
Overgeneralizing
Making a very broad conclusion based on one event; taking one situation andexpecting the same result to happen in all future situations. A person who overgeneralizes may View one or a few unpleasant incidents as a never-ending pattern of defeat. Example: He dislikes my artwork so I bet everyone dislikes my artwork. Tip: Be specific … Read more
Filtering Out Positive
Only focusing on the negative aspects of an experience while ignoring the positives.A person who filters out the positive may focus only on information that confirmswhat they already believe in. Example: He didn’t like the chicken I made for dinner but loved the vegetables and dessert, so I feel that my cooking skills are terrible … Read more
Other-Blaming
Blaming others or holding other people responsible for things done to you that they may have little or no control over. A person who other-blames may view certain negative situations as entirely the fault of others and overlook ways in which they are contributing to the problem. Example: She should have been more careful when … Read more
Self-Blaming
Blaming yourself or thinking you’re personally responsible for a situation that you have little or no control over. A person who self-blames may view any negative situation as a direct consequence of their perceived incompetence. Personalization may lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. Example: I was late to work because of a road … Read more
Fortune-Telling
Predicting a negative outcome before the event happens and without sufficient oradequate evidence. Examples: My boss will definitely not like my presentation. My boyfriend will definitely hate my new haircut. I failed my first exam so I will fail the class. Tip: Try seeing if you can reframe things in a more positive or balanced … Read more