Tactics of Thinking
This tactic helps a person avoid looking honestly at a problem.
What is denial?
Influencing others to get what you want without being honest about your intentions.
What is manipulation?
Recovery begins when a person accepts this for their actions.
What is responsibility?
This recovery skill requires being truthful with yourself and others.
What is honesty?
"Everyone does it."
What is rationalization?
This tactic makes a problem seem smaller or less serious than it really is.
What is minimization?
Telling different stories to different people in order to gain an advantage.
What is conning?
This tactic avoids responsibility by saying, "It's not my fault."
What is blaming?
This skill helps identify criminal or addictive thinking before it leads to action.
What is self-awareness?
"If my boss wasn't so unfair, I wouldn't have gotten in trouble."
What is blaming?
This tactic involves making excuses for unhealthy or criminal behavior.
What is rationalization?
This tactic uses guilt or sympathy to influence another person's decisions.
What is emotional manipulation?
Admitting mistakes and learning from them demonstrates this quality.
What is accountability?
Talking with a sponsor, counselor, or trusted support person can help challenge these.
What are thinking errors or tactics?
"I only lied a little bit."
What is minimization?
This tactic shifts attention away from one's own behavior by focusing on someone else's faults.
What is blame-shifting?
Pretending to agree with rules or treatment while secretly planning not to follow through.
What is compliance without commitment?
Accepting consequences instead of making excuses demonstrates this recovery skill.
What is ownership?
This recovery response involves stopping and examining the consequences of a choice before acting.
What is thinking ahead?
"I know I got arrested, but the police were really the problem."
What is denial or blame-shifting?
This tactic allows a person to continue harmful behavior while convincing themselves it is acceptable.
What is self-deception?
Making promises with no intention of keeping them is an example of this tactic.
What is deception?
This recovery principle involves focusing on what you can control rather than others' actions.
What is personal responsibility?
Replacing manipulation with this communication style supports recovery.
What is assertive and honest communication?
"I'll tell them whatever they want to hear so they'll leave me alone."
What is manipulation or conning?