16 Questions
What is the term for thinking and interpreting in all-or-nothing terms?
All-or-nothing thinking
What is the term for assuming people react negatively to oneself without evidence?
Mind reading
What is the term for only seeing the negative details instead of the whole picture?
Mental filter
What is the term for criticizing oneself or others with 'should' or 'should not'?
Should statement
What is the term for portraying one's identity based on imperfections and mistakes?
Labeling
What is the term for insisting accomplishments or positive qualities 'do not count'?
Discounting the positives
What is the term for holding extreme beliefs based on a single incident and applying them inappropriately to dissimilar events or settings?
Overgeneralization
What is the term for evaluating oneself or a situation by unreasonably magnifying the negative or minimizing the positive?
Magnification or minimization
Which cognitive distortion is characterized by assuming that someone is reacting negatively to you without any evidence to support this assumption?
Mind reading
A person believes that they will always fail in their career because they failed in one interview. Which cognitive distortion is this?
Overgeneralization
Which cognitive distortion involves focusing only on the negative aspects of a situation and ignoring the positive ones?
Mental Filter
A person constantly tells themselves that they should have done things differently, even though they did their best. Which cognitive distortion is this?
Should statement
A person believes that they are a total failure because they made one mistake. Which cognitive distortion is this?
Labeling
Which cognitive distortion involves exaggerating the negative consequences of a situation?
Catastrophizing
A person believes that they are responsible for a natural disaster that occurred in their hometown. Which cognitive distortion is this?
Personalization
Which cognitive distortion involves evaluating oneself or a situation by unreasonably magnifying the negative or minimizing the positive?
Magnification
Study Notes
Cognitive Distortions in CBT
All-or-Nothing Thinking
- Thinking and interpreting experiences in absolute, either-or extremes
- Categorizing experiences into absolute categories with no middle ground
- Example: Believing that not getting into university means that high school was a waste of time
Overgeneralization
- Holding extreme beliefs based on a single incident and applying them inappropriately to other events or settings
- Example: Believing that one is incompetent in all areas of life because of a single mistake
Discounting the Positives
- Insisting that accomplishments or positive qualities "do not count"
- Minimizing or dismissing one's strengths and achievements
Labeling
- Portraying one's identity based on past mistakes and imperfections
- Allowing past failures to define one's true identity
- Example: Believing that one is a "failure" because of a past failure
Jumping to Conclusions
- Mind-reading: assuming people react negatively to oneself without evidence
- Fortune-telling: assuming the worst-case scenario will occur
Emotional Reasoning
- Reasoning and making decisions based on emotions rather than facts
- Assuming that one's emotions reflect the objective truth
Should Statements
- Criticizing oneself or others with "should," "must," or "ought to" statements
- Creating unrealistic expectations and self-criticism
Catastrophizing
- Always thinking of the worst-case scenario
- Assuming the most negative outcome will occur
Personalization
- Relating external events to oneself without evidence
- Taking things too personally and assuming responsibility for things outside of one's control
Magnification/Minimization
- Unreasonably magnifying the negative or minimizing the positive
- Evaluating oneself, others, or situations in an unbalanced way
Mental Filter/Selective Abstraction
- Focusing on the negative details and ignoring the rest of the picture
- Selectively highlighting the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive
Cognitive Distortions in CBT
All-or-Nothing Thinking
- Thinking and interpreting experiences in absolute, either-or extremes
- Categorizing experiences into absolute categories with no middle ground
- Example: Believing that not getting into university means that high school was a waste of time
Overgeneralization
- Holding extreme beliefs based on a single incident and applying them inappropriately to other events or settings
- Example: Believing that one is incompetent in all areas of life because of a single mistake
Discounting the Positives
- Insisting that accomplishments or positive qualities "do not count"
- Minimizing or dismissing one's strengths and achievements
Labeling
- Portraying one's identity based on past mistakes and imperfections
- Allowing past failures to define one's true identity
- Example: Believing that one is a "failure" because of a past failure
Jumping to Conclusions
- Mind-reading: assuming people react negatively to oneself without evidence
- Fortune-telling: assuming the worst-case scenario will occur
Emotional Reasoning
- Reasoning and making decisions based on emotions rather than facts
- Assuming that one's emotions reflect the objective truth
Should Statements
- Criticizing oneself or others with "should," "must," or "ought to" statements
- Creating unrealistic expectations and self-criticism
Catastrophizing
- Always thinking of the worst-case scenario
- Assuming the most negative outcome will occur
Personalization
- Relating external events to oneself without evidence
- Taking things too personally and assuming responsibility for things outside of one's control
Magnification/Minimization
- Unreasonably magnifying the negative or minimizing the positive
- Evaluating oneself, others, or situations in an unbalanced way
Mental Filter/Selective Abstraction
- Focusing on the negative details and ignoring the rest of the picture
- Selectively highlighting the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive
This quiz covers cognitive distortions in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and discounting the positives. Learn to recognize and challenge these patterns of thinking.
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