Show:
Thinking Traps
Thinking Traps
Thinking Traps
Thinking Traps
Thinking Traps
100
Brook is accepted to every university she applied to. She writes it off as “no biggie.”
What is disqualifying the positive. or minimization
100
For the first time ever, Kevin strikes out in the final inning of a really close game. He says to himself – “I always mess things up for everyone!”
What is personalisation. What is black & white thinking.
100
Jeff really wanted an Xbox for Christmas. His parents bought him a pair of pants. Jeff thinks: “They don’t love me. They’re bad parents. Life sucks.”
What is black & white thinking. What is catastrophizing.
100
Sarah told her friend Kevin that she was feeling sad and needed to talk to him right now. Kevin said he was busy and asked if he could call at 9 tonight. Sarah told him not to bother- if he can’t be there for her when she needs him, then he obviously doesn’t care about her.
What is black & white thinking.
200
All cats are scary.
What is all or nothing thinking.
200
Jim gets dumped by his girlfriend of 2 weeks. “I can’t go on without her. I loved her. I’ll never meet anyone like her.”
What is fortune telling. What is catastrophizing.
200
Luke hoped to graduate with the top marks in his grade. He came in with the 2nd highest grades. Luke thinks: “I’m such a failure.”
What is labeling. disqualifying the positive.
200
Ella feels down. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. At the same time, she has lots of friends, she’s doing really well in her courses and she’s doing interesting things like writing a film script in her spare time. Ella thinks, “no one will ever like me. I’m not special.”
What is fortune telling/mental filter.
200
Andrew invited a friend to come over to his house on the weekend. The friend said he was busy and couldn’t come. Andrew thought it must mean that this friend doesn’t like him and doesn’t want to hang out with him anymore. Andrew decided he wouldn’t ask his friend to do anything again.
What is mind reading.
300
Martin gives a great presentation, but stutters for a second mid-way. His class gives him a standing ovation for a job well done. Martin can’t stop thinking about how he messed up.
What is mental filter.
300

I should be in control of my anxiety and should be able to use coping skills when I need them.  

What is should statements

300
Jenny’s best friend got into a car accident on the way home from a party at Jenny’s. Jenny blames herself for the accident.
What is personalization.
300
Peter doesn’t know anyone in his math class. All of a sudden a couple of girls sitting behind him begin to say hello and ask him to work in their group. Peter thinks: “the teacher must have asked them to be nice to me ‘cause I’m such a charity case.”
What is mind reading.
300
I'm a loser
What is labeling.
400
“I’m soooooooo stupid!!!”
What is labeling.
400
Kim passes her friend Cathy in the hall. Kim quietly says hello, but Cathy does not respond. She’s busy talking with a group of girls. Kim thinks to herself – “Oh great! She hates me and she’s encouraging the others to hate me too!”
What is mind reading.
400
Marcia notices an ad for a salesperson in her favorite store at the mall. She decides not to bother applying because so far, every time she has applied, she has been turned down.
What is over-generalizing.
400
Amanda just got her nails done for prom. On her way out of the nail place, she chips the polish on her thumb while reaching for her keys. She thinks to herself: “Ugh. My nails look horrible! Now what am I going to do? My night is ruined!”
What is all or nothing thinking/catastrophizing
400
After playing a difficult piece on the piano, a gifted pianist told herself, "I shouldn't have made so many mistakes." This made her feel so disgusted that she quite practicing for several weeks.
What are "should" statements.
500
Jenna got her first excellent grade in math. She writes it off by saying – “ahh, it’s just a fluke. The test was super easy.”
What is minimization.
500
Lisa is in her first year at Harvard. She’s doing well except for her biology class. She thinks to herself – “I’m not made out for school…”
What is overgeneralizing.
500
Jack is in a rush. He’s at the grocery store trying to buy some pop and chips for a movie night when the person in front of him has too many items for the express lane and needs to wait for a stock person to check on a price. This is the second time in a year this has happened to Jack. Jack thinks, “This ALWAYS happens to me! Grocery shopping is always so stressful!”
What is overgeneralizing.
500
I feel terrified about going on airplanes. It must be very dangerous to fly.
What is emotional reasoning.