Thinking Errors

Mind Traps

100

This trap happens when you refuse to take responsibility and instead make someone else responsible for what happened.

The Blame Trap

200

This trap sees people or events as totally one way or totally the other, such as success/failure or good/bad.

The All-or-Nothing Trap

300

This trap makes you feel like you are a victim of circumstances and have no way to solve your problems.

The Helpless Trap

400

This trap involves being unfairly harsh or critical toward yourself and believing you should have done better.

The Guilt Trap

500

This trap turns a small problem into a major crisis or assumes an attempt will end in disaster.

The Catastrophe Trap

Thinking Errors I(WOT's to Avoid)

100

This WOT uses explanations that sound logical to excuse yourself from full responsibility.

Rationalization

200

This WOT makes a serious behavior or problem seem smaller than it really is, often using words such as 'just' or 'only.'

Minimizing

300

This WOT focuses on someone else as the cause of a problem so you do not have to consider your own actions.

Blaming

400

This WOT assumes you know another person's thoughts, feelings, or motives without checking the facts.

Assuming

500

This WOT can be used to avoid obligations by claiming you do not understand, remember, or know what happened.

Confusion

Thinking Errors II (WOT's to Avoid)

100

This WOT is the belief that you deserve special treatment or that the rules should not apply to you.

Entitlement

200

This WOT changes the subject or redirects attention away from an uncomfortable issue.

Hop Over

300

This WOT distorts the truth or leaves out important details to mislead or confuse others.

Lying

400

This WOT involves believing you are superior to others and that you are right about everything.

Grandiosity

500

This WOT presents yourself as powerless or as the 'true victim' so you do not have to be accountable for your choices.

Victim Stance

Thinking Errors III(WOT's to Avoid)

100

This WOT can be used to avoid participation, studying, or responsibility by labeling something 'boring,' 'stupid,' or 'lame.'

Boredom

200

Someone responds to a question about their behavior by changing the subject and focusing attention somewhere else. Which WOT is this?

Hop Over

300

Someone says, 'Everybody was doing it, so I had to.' Which WOT best fits this attempt to excuse behavior?

Rationalization

400

Someone says, 'It was just one lousy beer,' to make the behavior seem less serious. Which WOT is this?

Minimizing

500

Someone says, 'He did that just to make me mad,' without checking the other person's actual motive. Which WOT is this?

Assuming

Improving Our WOT

100

This practice means being open to other people's ideas and perspectives, especially when they challenge your beliefs.

Practice Open Thinking

200

When thoughts about drinking, drugs, or criminal behavior come up, this practice asks you to picture the likely consequences rather than focusing only on the excitement.

Consider Consequences Rather Than Thinking You Can Control Them

300

This practice means owning your thoughts, actions, and mistakes instead of taking a victim stance.

Accept Personal Responsibility

400

Instead of blaming problems or other people, this practice asks you to examine how you performed while working toward your goals.

Analyze Your Performance Rather Than Blaming Problems on Others

500

This practice recognizes that mistakes do not make you worthless and encourages achievable goals and an 'I can do it' attitude.

Develop a Realistic Self-View