ID the Trap 1
You apply for a college and don’t hear back immediately. You think your application was surely rejected.
What is jumping to conclusions?
You say to yourself "I am stupid" after making a small mistake.
What is labeling?
Give an example of labeling.
What is "I am stupid," "I am ugly," That person is an idiot," etc.?
Give an example of jumping to conclusions.
What is overestimating the likelihood of a bad outcome (various examples)?
This is the first step of detective thinking.
What is identify the automatic interpretation?
You have a headache and think you must have a brain tumor, without considering other possibilities like dehydration or fatigue.
What is thinking the worst?
You walk by a group of giggling kids who quiet when you pass by, so you assume they are making fun of you.
What is mind reading?
Give an example of mind reading.
What is assuming what others are thinking (various examples)?
Give an example of fortune telling.
What is believing something bad will happen without evidence (various examples)?
This is the second step of detective thinking.
What is identify the thinking trap?
You think you won a chess match not because of your skill, but because your opponent was weak.
What is ignoring the positive?
You think that no one at a party will want to talk to you and that you’ll just embarrass yourself, so you avoid conversations.
What is fortune telling?
Give an example of ignoring the positive.
What is discounting the positive in favor of the negative (various examples)?
Give an example of thinking the worst.
What is believing the worst-case scenario will unfold (various examples)?
This is the third step of detective thinking - with an example.
What is evaluating the evidence + (various examples of detective questions)?
You think that if your parents yell at you once, they don’t love you anymore.
What is black-and-white thinking?
You think that if you check all the locks on your door multiple times, you will prevent any chance of a break-in.
What is magical thinking?
Give an example of black-and-white thinking.
What is thinking a situation is one way or the other (black or white), with no possibilities in between (gray)? (Various examples.)
Give an example of "should" and "must" statements.
What is that things should or must always be a certain way (various examples)?
This is the fourth step of detective thinking.
What is identify the most realistic or likely outcome?
You cancel your dentist appointment because you are sure it will be too painful to bear.
What is fortune telling?
You get a promotion at work but think you don’t deserve it, because deep down, you feel like a fraud.
What is emotional reasoning?
Give an example of emotional reasoning.
What is making a prediction based on a "gut feeling" (various examples)?
Give an example of magical thinking.
What is believing your behaviors can influence things outside of your control (various examples)?
This is the fifth step of detective thinking - with an example.
What is dealing with it or coping with it + (various answers such as "could I cope with it?" "how have I handled it in the past?" etc.)?