One
Making things seem way bigger or way smaller than they really are. It’s when you blow your mistakes or problems out of proportion or brush off your successes and good qualities like they don’t matter.
What is Magnification and Minimization?
Expecting the worst possible outcome or thinking something small will turn into a huge disaster. It’s when your mind jumps straight to the worst-case scenario, even if it’s not very likely to happen.
What is Catastrophizing?
Means taking one negative event and assuming it will always happen again. It’s when you make a broad rule about yourself or your life based on just one experience.
What is Overgeneralization?
Believing that your thoughts, feelings, or actions can cause things to happen when there’s no real connection. It’s when you think something you do or think will directly change events in the world, even if it doesn’t make logical sense.
What is Magical Thinking?
Blaming yourself for things that aren’t really your fault or taking responsibility for things you can’t control. It’s when you assume that what happens around you is somehow because of you, even when it isn’t.
What is Personalization?
Deciding something without having all the facts. It’s when you assume you know what’s going to happen or what someone else is thinking — even though you don’t have proof.
What is Jumping to Conclusions?
Assuming you know what someone else is thinking or feeling without them actually saying it. It’s when you guess what’s going on in their mind — and it’s usually negative.
What is Mind Reading?
Assuming you know what’s going to happen — and expecting it to be bad — even though you can’t really know for sure. It’s like predicting the future in a negative way.
What is Fortune Telling?
Believing that what you feel must be true, even if the facts say otherwise. It’s when you let your emotions guide your view of reality.
What is Emotional Reasoning?
Ignoring or downplaying good things that happen to you. It’s when you dismiss compliments, achievements, or successes as not really counting.
What is Disqualifying the Positive?
When you tell yourself or others how things must or should be. They can make you feel guilty, frustrated, or disappointed when reality doesn’t match your expectations.
What are Should Statements?
Seeing things in black-and-white terms, without noticing the middle ground. It’s when you think something is either perfect or a total failure, with nothing in between.
What is All or Nothing Thinking?
“I tripped in the hallway — everyone must think I’m so awkward.”
Minimization: “Yeah, I made the team, but it’s not a big deal.”
What is Magnification or minimization?
“If I fail this quiz, I’ll never get into college.”
“My friend didn’t text back — they must be mad at me forever.”
What is Catastrophizing?
“I failed one math test — I’m terrible at math.”
“My friend ignored me once — no one ever likes me.”
What is Overgeneralization?
“If I don’t wear my lucky hoodie, I’ll fail my test.”
“I thought something bad might happen — and it did — so it must be my fault.”
What is Magical thinking?
“My friend looks upset — I must’ve done something wrong.”
“The group didn’t win the game — it’s all my fault.”
What is Personalization?
“She didn’t say hi to me — she must be mad at me.”
“I’m definitely going to fail this project,” before you even start it.
What is Jumping to Conclusions?
“He didn’t laugh at my joke — he must think I’m boring.”
“My teacher looked annoyed — she probably doesn’t like me.”
What is Mind Reading?
“I just know I’m going to mess up my presentation.”
“No one’s going to talk to me at the party — it’s going to be awful.”
What is Fortune Telling?
“I feel stupid, so I must be stupid.”
“I feel nervous about the test — that means I’m going to fail.”
What is Emotional Reasoning?
“I got an A on the test, but it was just luck.”
“They said I did a good job, but they were probably just being nice.”
What is Disqualifying the Positive?
“I should always get perfect grades."
“He should text me back right away.”
“I shouldn’t make mistakes.”
What are Should Statements?
“If I don’t get an A, I’m a complete failure.”
“If my friend disagrees with me, they must not like me at all.”
What is All or Nothing Thinking?
Kate Payne, LAC
Who is the best therapist/group facilitator in the entire universe?