Cognitive Distortions

Cognitive Distortions are inaccurate or exaggerated thought patterns that can lead to negative emotions, anxiety, depression, and a variety of other mental health problems. They are often part of a cycle where thoughts influence emotions, which then influence behaviors. These distortions can be challenging to recognize because they often form part of our habitual thinking patterns.

Here are some examples of common cognitive distortions:

All-or-Nothing Thinking (Black-and-White Thinking)

Viewing situations in only two categories instead of on a continuum. For example, if your performance falls short of perfect, you see yourself as a total failure.

Overgeneralization

Making broad interpretations from a single or few events. For example, thinking that making a single mistake means you always make mistakes.

Mental Filter

Focusing exclusively on the most negative and upsetting features of a situation, filtering out all positive aspects.

Discounting the Positive

Not acknowledging the positive. Saying that the positive things you or others do are trivial.

Jumping to Conclusions

Interpreting the meaning of a situation with little or no evidence.

Magnification and Minimization Political Environment

Exaggerating or minimizing the meaning, importance, or likelihood of things.

Emotional Reasoning

Making decisions and arguments based on how you feel rather than objective reality.

Should Statements

Having a precise, fixed idea of how you or others should behave and overestimating how bad it is that these expectations are not met.

Labeling

Assigning global negative traits to yourself and others.

Personalization and Blame

Focusing on the self as the source of negative events and dismissing external events or the actions of others.

These Cognitive Distortion(s) are often addressed in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors.