Faculty of Social Sciences
Perspective in Psychology
By
Ma'am Zainab
Assignment 02
Cognation Distortions
Prepared by
Syed Touseef Haider Rizvi
24-12-2024
Here are 12 common cognitive distortions, along with their definitions and examples:
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking
Definition: Viewing situations as either entirely good or entirely bad.
Example: "I'm a complete failure for not getting the job. I'll never find employment."
2. Overgeneralization
Definition: Drawing broad conclusions based on limited evidence.
Example: "I had one bad date, so I'll never find someone compatible."
3. Mental Filter
Definition: Focusing on negative aspects while ignoring positive ones.
Example: "I got 9 positive reviews and 1 negative review. I'm a terrible performer."
4. Disqualifying the Positive
Definition: Downplaying or dismissing positive experiences or achievements.
Example: "I only got the award because the judges felt sorry for me."
5. Jumping to Conclusions
Definition: Making assumptions without sufficient evidence.
Example: "My partner didn't call me today, so they must be ignoring me."
6. Magnification (Catastrophizing)
Definition: Exaggerating the importance or severity of a situation.
Example: "I forgot to turn off the stove, and the house is going to burn down."
7. Minimization
Definition: Downplaying the significance or severity of a situation.
Example: "I only had a few drinks, so I'm fine to drive."
8. Emotional Reasoning
Definition: Believing that emotions reflect reality.
Example: "I feel anxious, so something terrible must be happening."
9. Should Statements
Definition: Using "should," "ought," or "must" to create unrealistic expectations.
Example: "I should be able to handle this workload without any stress."
10. Labelling
Definition: Assigning a label or judgment to oneself or others.
Example: "I'm a loser for making that mistake."
11. Personalization
Definition: Taking things personally or assuming responsibility for events outside of one's
control.
Example: "The rain ruined our picnic, so it's my fault."
12. Blame
Definition: Attributing negative events or circumstances to someone or something else.
Example: "My boss is to blame for my lack of success in the company."
Recognizing and challenging these cognitive distortions can help individuals develop more
balanced and constructive thinking patterns.
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