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