Cognitive distortions Flashcards
(12 cards)
Exaggerating or minimizing the importance of events. You might believe your own achievements are unimportant or that your mistakes are excessively important.
Magnification and minimization
Making broad interpretations from a single or few events. “I felt awkward during my job interview. I am always so awkward.”
Overgeneralization
Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.
Catastrophizing
The belief that thoughts, actions, or emotions influence unrelated situations. “If I hadn’t hoped something bad would happen to him, he wouldn’t have gotten into an accident.”
Magical thinking
The belief that you are responsible for events outside of your control. “My mom is always upset. She would be fine if I did more to help her.”
Personalization
Interpreting the meaning of a situation with little or no evidence.
Jumping to conclusions
Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without adequate evidence. “She wouldn’t go on a date with me. She probably thinks I’m ugly.”
Mind reading
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
Fortune telling
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are. “I feel like a bad friend, therefore I must be a bad friend.”
Emotional reasoning
Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive. You might receive many compliments on an evaluation, but focus on the single piece of negative feedback.
Disqualifying the positive
The belief that things should be a certain way. “I should always be perfect.”
“Should” statements
Thinking in absolutes such as “always,” “never,” or “every.” “I never do a good enough job on anything.”
All-or-nothing thinking
