What Are The 10 Cognitive Distortions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Engaging in catastrophic thinking. You to expect the worst outcome in any situation. …
  2. Discounting the positive. …
  3. Emotional reasoning. …
  4. Labeling/mislabeling. …
  5. Mental filtering. …
  6. Jumping to conclusions. …
  7. Overgeneralization. …
  8. Personalization.

What is cognitive distortion CBT?

Cognitive distortions: an introduction to how CBT describes

unhelpful ways of thinking

. Cognitive distortions or ‘unhelpful thinking styles’ are ways that our thoughts can become biased. As conscious beings we are always interpreting the world around us, trying to make sense of what is happening.

What is cognitive distortion a symptom of?

A cognitive distortion is an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern involved in the onset or perpetuation of psychopathological states, such as

depression and anxiety

. Cognitive distortions are thoughts that cause individuals to perceive reality inaccurately.

What causes distorted thinking?

In most cases, distorted thinking or cognitive distortions is typically consistent with

an individual’s core beliefs

. The core beliefs that cause these negative thoughts are ones that are about themselves, others, and the world.

What is an example of a cognitive distortion?

It’s raining.

She has hydroplaned and her car is upside down in a ditch

. “ These are all prime examples of cognitive distortions: thought patterns that cause people to view reality in inaccurate — usually negative — ways.

What are the 15 cognitive distortions?

  • Filtering. …
  • Polarized Thinking. …
  • Overgeneralization. …
  • Jumping to Conclusions. …
  • Catastrophizing. …
  • Personalization. …
  • Control Fallacies. …
  • Fallacy of Fairness.

How do you fix cognitive distortions?

  1. Read yourself.
  2. Identify the type of distortion.
  3. Change roles.
  4. Examine the evidence.
  5. Sum of its parts.
  6. Skip generalizations.
  7. Avoid speculations.
  8. No more “shoulds”

Is cognitive distortion A CBT?

The basis of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is identifying cognitive distortions (faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking) to effectively treat a number of issues ranging from depression and anxiety to addiction and eating disorders.

What is faulty thinking in CBT?

What Are Thinking Errors Or Cognitive Disortions? Thinking errors are

faulty patterns of thinking that are self-defeating

. They occur when the things you are thinking do not match up with reality. This is sometimes also referred to as cognitive distortions.

How do you identify distorted thinking?

  1. All-or-Nothing Thinking;
  2. Overgeneralizing;
  3. Discounting the Positive;
  4. Jumping to Conclusions;
  5. Mind Reading;
  6. Fortune Telling;
  7. Magnification (Catastrophizing) and Minimizing;
  8. Emotional Reasoning;

What is a dysfunctional thought?

The assumption that dysfunctional thoughts underlie mood (and other) disorders is at the heart of cognitive therapy, which aims

to alter negatively biased thoughts

, also referred to as “dysfunctional thoughts” or “cogni- tive distortions.” Dysfunctional thoughts generally ex- press negative perceptions of oneself, …

What is all-or-nothing thinking?

All-or-nothing thinking often involves using absolute terms, such as

never or ever

. This type of faulty thinking can also include an inability to see the alternatives in a situation or solutions to a problem. For people with anxiety or depression, this often means only seeing the downside to any given situation.

How do you fix all-or-nothing thinking?

  1. Separate self-worth from performance. …
  2. Use the word “and,” instead of “or.” …
  3. Focus on your positive qualities. …
  4. Consider all options. …
  5. Explore these questions.

What are the most common cognitive distortions?

  • Emotional reasoning. …
  • Labeling/mislabeling. …
  • Mental filtering. …
  • Jumping to conclusions. …
  • Overgeneralization. …
  • Personalization. …
  • Polarized or black-and-white thinking. …
  • “Should” statements. You have a list of rules for how people should and shouldn’t behave.

Can anxiety cause distorted thinking?


Cognitive distortions

are the ways in which our mind convinces us of the truth of something that isn’t true. Cognitive distortions cause mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. By learning how to identify and refute inaccurate thinking, we can find more rational and balanced thinking.

What is the root of cognitive distortions?

Cognitive distortions are

self-defeating and self-fulfilling

Perfectionism lies at the root of cognitive distortions and it’s a terrible taskmaster. Expecting perfection from flawed human beings isn’t nice. Being human means we do great things and we do hurtful things. We need forgiveness from each other and ourselves.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.