Twisted Thinking Examples
“He thinks I’m an idiot.”
“I’m not going to make the team"
Mind Reading
I only got a B on my reading test. I always fail. I shouldn’t have even tried.
All - Or - Nothing Thinking
"I will never be happy"
"I may be unhappy now but that will pass."
“Others did better than I did on the test.”
“People my age are more successful than I am.
Unfair Comparisons
My friend looked at his watch when I was talking today. He must be thinking I’m boring.
Personification
Personalizing things
You focus almost exclusively on the negatives and seldom notice the positives.
Maximizing Negatives / Negative Filter
I hate how I look, so I must look ugly to everyone else too.
Emotional Reasoning
“I could have had a better job if I had tried harder.”
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I always mess up.”
Regret Orientation
I got an award at the assembly yesterday, but that’s no big deal. I’m not really that good of a student.
Minimizing Positives
My teacher didn’t answer me when I said hello to her this morning. She’s probably mad at me for something
Jumping to Conclusions (Mind Reading)
I must get all A’s to be a good student
Shoulds/Musts
“I didn’t perform well.”
“I tried it, and I just kept doing it wrong.”
“Look how successful she is, I’m not that successful.”
Judgment Focus
“It would be terrible if I failed.”
“If I make a bad grade then I will never get into a good college.
Catastrophizing
Another student called me a name once today. People are always making fun of me.
Overgeneralizing
I know she complimented me on my new outfit but she was just being nice.
Disqualifying the Positive OR Minimization
“They are not interested in what I have to say.”
Jumping to Conclusions - Mind Reading
Thank you for participating
There’s no way I could ever be as talented as the star quarterback on the football team. I shouldn’t even try.
Comparison
This is an extreme example of turning positive events into negative ones.
Disqualifying the Positive
“I get rejected by everyone.”
“Nothing ever goes my way.
All-or-None Thinking
“Yes, that presentation went well, but it won’t happen again.”
Disqualifying the Positive
"It's all my fault"
Self-blame