Name That Thinking Error
Believing you know what someone else is thinking without asking them.
Mind Reading
You get 9 out of 10 questions right on a test, but all you can think about is the one question you missed.
Ignoring the Good
You wave to a friend in the hallway, but they don't wave back. You immediately think, "They're mad at me."
Mind Reading
What is one question you can ask yourself when you think you know what someone else is thinking?
What evidence do I have?" or "Could there be another explanation?"
Change this thought: "I'm terrible at math."
"Some math is hard for me, but I can improve with practice."
Predicting that something bad is going to happen, even though you don't know what the future holds.
Fortune Telling
You think, "If I don't get an A on this test, I'm not smart."
Trying to Be Perfect
Your parents remind you to clean your room, and you think, "They should just leave me alone. Parents shouldn't ever tell their kids what to do."
Should Statements
What is the difference between a fact and a guess?
A fact can be supported by evidence. A guess is something you think might be true.
Change this thought: "My teacher should never get frustrated with me."
"I don't like when my teacher gets frustrated, but everyone experiences frustration sometimes."
Focusing only on the bad things that happen while ignoring the good things.
Ignoring the Good
Before giving a presentation, you think, "I'm definitely going to mess up, and everyone will laugh at me."
Fortune Telling
You get into an argument with your sibling and think, "My sibling is the worst person ever. They're so annoying and mean!"
Negative Labeling
Your teacher walks past you without saying hello, and you immediately think, "She must be upset with me." What are two other possible explanations for why she didn't say hello?
She might have been distracted, in a hurry, or thinking about something else.
Change this thought: "I know I'm going to mess up at tryouts."
"I don't know what will happen at tryouts. I can prepare and do my best."
Giving yourself a negative name or description because of one mistake.
Negative Labeling
You forget your homework one day and think, "I'm such an idiot. I can never do anything right."
Negative Labeling
Your sibling gets to choose the movie for family movie night, and you think, "My parents obviously love them more than me."
Mind Reading (also Magnifying)
You think, "Everyone at school thinks I'm weird." What could you ask yourself to challenge this thought?
"Do I actually know what everyone thinks?" or "What evidence supports or challenges this thought?"
Change this thought: "I made a mistake, so my whole day is ruined."
"Making a mistake is frustrating, but it doesn't mean the rest of my day will be bad."
Believing that if something isn't done perfectly, it's not good enough.
Trying to Be Perfect
Your group project doesn't go well, and you think, "This is all my fault," even though everyone had responsibilities.
Self-Blaming
Your sibling gets praised for doing well on a test, and you think, "My parents never notice anything good I do."
Ignoring the Good
You feel embarrassed after answering a question incorrectly and think, "Everyone must think I'm stupid." Identify two thinking errors.
Mind Reading and Emotional Reasoning (an additional cognitive distortion beyond the core worksheet).
Your friend hasn't responded to your text in three hours, and you think, "They hate me." Come up with three other possible explanations.
They're busy, their phone is off, or they forgot to respond.