Explore cognitive distortions: Learn to identify, understand, and overcome these skewed thought patterns for improved mental well-being and resilience.
Main, P. (2023, November 2). Cognitive Distortions. Retrieved from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/cognitive-distortions
Cognitive distortions are irrational thoughts or biased perspectives that can have a significant impact on mental health. These distorted thinking patterns can lead to psychological damage, low self-esteem, and exacerbate symptoms of various mental illnesses.
These aren't just fleeting thoughts; they're deeply ingrained styles of thinking that can become the architects of our emotional turmoil. Take "Polarized Thinking," for instance, an extreme form of "black-and-white" or "Dichotomous Thinking," where the world is seen in absolutes, leaving no room for the nuanced shades of grey that define most of life. Or consider "Mental Filtering," a cognitive trap where only the negative details of a situation are magnified, while positive events are conveniently ignored or trivialized.
But it doesn't stop there. "Overgeneralization" is another culprit, a form of overgeneralization where one isolated incident is blown out of proportion to predict future events, often leading to sweeping and unfounded conclusions about oneself or others.
These errors in thinking can become self-fulfilling prophecies, reinforcing the very distortions that created them. The cycle is vicious: distorted thoughts lead to negative emotions, which in turn fuel behaviors that serve to validate and perpetuate these cognitive distortions.
The good news? Cognitive therapy, pioneered by psychologists like Aaron Beck and David Burns, offers a way out. By identifying and challenging these distortions, we can recalibrate our style of thinking, break the cycle, and pave the way for improved mental well-being.
So, as we delve deeper into this topic, we'll explore the psychological underpinnings of these distortions, their impact on mental health, and most importantly, strategies to dismantle them.
Key Insights:
In his book, "Feeling Good Handbook" (1989), David Burns identified 11 common cognitive distortions that can affect our thinking patterns. These distorted thinking styles can have a significant impact on our emotions, behaviors, and overall mental well-being. Here are the 11 common cognitive distortions with explanations and examples:
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking: This distortion involves believing that things are either all good or all bad, with no shades of gray. For example, thinking that getting a bad grade on an exam means you are a complete failure.
2. Overgeneralization: This distortion involves forming negative beliefs based on a single incident or piece of evidence. For example, believing that one rejection in a relationship means you will never find love.
3. Mental Filtering: With this distortion, individuals focus only on the negative details of a situation, while ignoring any positive aspects. For example, dwelling on a single criticism and dismissing numerous compliments.
4. Disqualifying the Positive: This distortion involves rejecting positive experiences or feedback as insignificant or invalid. For example, discounting compliments by saying they don't really mean it.
5. Jumping to Conclusions: This distortion involves making negative interpretations about situations without any evidence. This can take the form of mind-reading, assuming we know what others are thinking, or fortune-telling, predicting a negative outcome without any basis. For example, assuming someone is angry with you based on their facial expression without considering other possibilities.
6. Magnification and Minimization: This distortion involves exaggerating the importance of negative events or minimizing the significance of positive ones. For example, blowing a small mistake out of proportion while ignoring your accomplishments.
7. Emotional Reasoning: This distortion involves believing that our feelings define reality. For example, feeling anxious about giving a presentation and concluding that it will undoubtedly be a disaster.
8. Should Statements: This distortion involves having rigid rules about how things should or must be, often leading to guilt or frustration. For example, thinking, "I should always be perfect" or "He shouldn't have said that."
9. Labeling: This distortion involves assigning harsh and negative labels to oneself or others based on a single characteristic or behavior. For example, labeling yourself as a failure for making a mistake.
10. Personalization: This distortion involves taking responsibility or blaming oneself for events that are beyond personal control. For example, blaming yourself for someone else's bad mood.
11. Catastrophizing: This distortion involves always assuming the worst-case scenario and overestimating the negative impact of events. For example, believing that a minor inconvenience will completely ruin your day.
By recognizing these cognitive distortions, we can challenge and replace them with more balanced and realistic thoughts, leading to improved emotional well-being and more positive behaviors.
Recognizing distorted thoughts is the first step to challenging them and promoting healthier thinking patterns. By becoming aware of the cognitive distortions that may be present in our minds, we can start to reframe negative thoughts into more neutral or positive ones. Here are some strategies for identifying cognitive distortions in daily life:
1. Increase Awareness: Mindfulness practices such as meditation can help us observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment. By taking a step back and noticing our thinking patterns, we can identify any distortions that may be present.
2. Journaling: Keeping a journal can be an effective tool for uncovering cognitive distortions. By writing down our thoughts and experiences, we can reflect on them later and identify any patterns or distortions that may be influencing our thinking.
3. Pay Attention to Language: Be mindful of the language you use when talking to yourself or others. Look out for words like "always," "never," "should," or "must," as these may indicate all-or-nothing thinking or rigid beliefs.
4. Challenge Assumptions: Whenever you notice a negative thought or belief, ask yourself for evidence that supports or contradicts it. Consider alternative perspectives and seek out more balanced interpretations of events.
5. Get External Feedback: Share your thoughts and concerns with trusted friends or a therapist who can provide an objective viewpoint. They may be able to identify distortions that you may have missed.
By incorporating these strategies into our daily lives, we can become more adept at recognizing cognitive distortions and ultimately work towards cultivating a more positive and balanced mindset.
Cognitive distortions can subtly weave threads of mental health challenges, creating patterns that may not be immediately discernible. These distortions, characterized by skewed and often negative thought patterns, can lay the groundwork for various mental health issues, including depression and anxiety disorders.
Control Fallacies: A prevalent type of thinking among adolescents is control fallacies, where students either feel excessively in control or utterly powerless over events in their lives.
A student might think, “If only I had studied harder, I wouldn’t have failed,” placing undue pressure and blame on themselves. On the flip side, they might believe, “No matter what I do, I can’t succeed in this class,” fostering a sense of helplessness.
Frequency and Intensity: The frequency and intensity of these distortions play a crucial role. Occasional negative thoughts are a part of the human experience, but when these thoughts become pervasive and intense, they can contribute to the onset of mental illness.
Negative Thought Patterns: Prolonged engagement in negative thinking can create a fertile ground for mental health issues. Students stuck in these patterns may find themselves spiraling into depressive states, experiencing heightened anxiety, and struggling to break free from the grip of these distortions.
Practical Steps for Teachers:
By understanding the intricate link between cognitive distortions and student mental health, teachers can play a pivotal role in identifying early signs of mental health issues and providing the necessary support to navigate these challenging waters.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and highly effective therapeutic approach for addressing cognitive distortions. It offers practical strategies and techniques to help individuals identify and challenge their distorted thinking patterns. By doing so, CBT promotes healthier and more balanced thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
In CBT, the therapist works collaboratively with the individual to identify and understand the cognitive distortions that contribute to their negative thoughts and beliefs. This process involves exploring the individual's thoughts and examining the evidence or lack thereof that supports these thoughts. By doing this, individuals can gain insight into their thinking patterns and recognize when their thoughts are distorted or inaccurate.
CBT employs several strategies to address cognitive distortions. One approach is cognitive restructuring, which involves challenging and restructuring negative or irrational thoughts. Through this process, individuals learn to replace distorted thoughts with more realistic and helpful ones. This technique helps them develop a more balanced perspective and reduces the impact of cognitive distortions on their emotions and behaviors.
Another technique used in CBT is thought recording. Individuals are encouraged to keep track of their thoughts and emotions in a journal or through another form of documentation. This practice allows individuals to examine their thoughts and identify any patterns or cognitive distortions that may be present. By becoming aware of these patterns, they can consciously challenge and reframe their distorted thinking.
CBT also emphasizes the use of behavioral experiments or homework assignments to test the validity of distorted thoughts and beliefs. By engaging in real-life experiences that challenge their cognitive distortions, individuals can gather actual evidence to evaluate the accuracy of their thoughts.
Overall, CBT provides individuals with the tools and techniques to identify and challenge their cognitive distortions. Through collaborative efforts with a therapist, individuals can develop healthier thinking patterns and experience positive changes in their emotions and behaviors.
Let's provide some fictional context to those insidious mental traps that can sabotage our emotional well-being. Recognizing and challenging these distortions is pivotal for mental well-being. The first step? Awareness. The second? Replacing these distortions with balanced, evidence-based thoughts. Here are five examples of what this might look like in practice.
1. Catastrophizing:
Picture Sarah, a 30-year-old marketing executive, who's running 10 minutes late for a crucial job interview. Her mind spirals into "Catastrophizing," as she thinks, "If I'm late, I'll botch the interview, never find another job, and end up homeless." The palpable tension manifests as sweaty palms and a racing heart, amplifying her anxiety to debilitating levels.
2. Personalization:
Next, meet Tom, a 40-year-old teacher. When his friend cancels their weekend plans, Tom's mind dives into "Personalization." He thinks, "He canceled because he finds me boring. I must've said something offensive last time." The result? A weekend spent ruminating, accompanied by a sinking feeling of guilt and plummeting self-esteem.
3. All-or-Nothing Thinking:
Then there's Emily, a 25-year-old graphic designer. She receives feedback on her project that's mostly positive but includes one minor critique. Her mind defaults to "All-or-Nothing Thinking," as she concludes, "I'm an utter failure. My career is going nowhere." She disregards her accomplishments, fixating solely on the critique, thereby eroding her self-confidence.
4. Mind Reading:
Consider also Raj, a 35-year-old software engineer, who walks into a cafeteria and sees a group of colleagues laughing. "Mind Reading" kicks in. He thinks, "They must be laughing at how awkward I am." No evidence, just a gut feeling that leaves him avoiding social gatherings, amplifying his social anxiety.
5. Filtering:
Lastly, envision Lisa, a 50-year-old nurse, who just led a successful community health workshop. She receives heaps of praise but fixates on one attendee's minor criticism. "Filtering" takes over, as she obsesses over that single negative comment, ignoring the overwhelming positive feedback, and ends up questioning her competence.
Key Insights:
Cognitive distortions can act as formidable barriers to academic achievement. They're not just the stuff of psychological textbooks; they're living, breathing entities that manifest in classrooms, shaping students' attitudes and behaviors in ways that can stifle their academic potential.
Cognitive distortions can have a significant impact on our thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to overcome these distortions and cultivate a healthier thinking pattern. Here are some tips and techniques to help counter cognitive distortions:
1. Identify the distortion: Recognize when you are engaging in distorted thinking by being aware of the characteristic signs of cognitive distortions. Pay attention to negative thoughts and the patterns of thinking that accompany them.
2. Challenge negative thoughts: Once you have identified a cognitive distortion, challenge its validity by questioning the evidence supporting it. Ask yourself, "Is there any actual evidence to support this belief?" Often, you will find that these negative thoughts are based on assumptions or irrational fears.
3. Reframe the thought: Replace negative thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones. For example, if you catch yourself catastrophizing, reframe the thought by reminding yourself that the situation may not be as dire as it seems. Focus on the facts and consider alternative explanations.
4. Practice positive self-talk: Counter cognitive distortions by consciously replacing negative self-talk with positive and affirming statements. Encourage yourself, acknowledge your strengths, and remind yourself of past successes.
5. Seek support: Share your thoughts and experiences with a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. They can provide an objective perspective, help you challenge distortions, and offer alternative viewpoints.
By implementing these tips and techniques, you can gradually overcome cognitive distortions and develop a more positive and balanced thinking style. Remember, it takes practice and patience, but the benefits to your mental and emotional well-being are well worth the effort.
There's plenty of online articles to explore on this topic, these evidence-based articles will provide you with some deeper context:
1. Bollen, J., ten Thij, M., Breithaupt, F., Barron, A. T. J., Rutter, L., Lorenzo-Luaces, L., & Scheffer, M. (2021). Historical language records reveal a surge of cognitive distortions in recent decades. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Summary: Suggests an increase in cognitive distortions due to recent socioeconomic changes, new technology, and social media.
2. Kostoglou, S. L., & Pidgeon, A. M. (2016). The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire: Psychometric validation for an Australian population. Australian Journal of Psychology.
Summary: Validates the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) as a reliable tool for assessing cognitive distortions in an Australian population.
3. Gannon, T., & Polaschek, D. (2006). Cognitive distortions in child molesters: a re-examination of key theories and research. Clinical psychology review.
Summary: Calls for diverse research designs to better understand cognitive distortions in child molesters for effective clinical practice.
4. Sparkes Guglielmo, S. (2015). Cognitive Distortion: Propositions and Possible Worlds. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Summary: Explores the concept of cognitive distortions and proposes a working hypothesis defining its operational status and scope.
5. Helmond, P., Overbeek, G., Brugman, D., & Gibbs, J. (2015). A Meta-Analysis on Cognitive Distortions and Externalizing Problem Behavior. Criminal Justice and Behavior.
Summary: Finds that cognitive distortions are substantially linked to externalizing behavior, but a subsequent reduction in such behavior remains to be demonstrated.
Cognitive distortions are irrational thoughts or biased perspectives that can have a significant impact on mental health. These distorted thinking patterns can lead to psychological damage, low self-esteem, and exacerbate symptoms of various mental illnesses.
These aren't just fleeting thoughts; they're deeply ingrained styles of thinking that can become the architects of our emotional turmoil. Take "Polarized Thinking," for instance, an extreme form of "black-and-white" or "Dichotomous Thinking," where the world is seen in absolutes, leaving no room for the nuanced shades of grey that define most of life. Or consider "Mental Filtering," a cognitive trap where only the negative details of a situation are magnified, while positive events are conveniently ignored or trivialized.
But it doesn't stop there. "Overgeneralization" is another culprit, a form of overgeneralization where one isolated incident is blown out of proportion to predict future events, often leading to sweeping and unfounded conclusions about oneself or others.
These errors in thinking can become self-fulfilling prophecies, reinforcing the very distortions that created them. The cycle is vicious: distorted thoughts lead to negative emotions, which in turn fuel behaviors that serve to validate and perpetuate these cognitive distortions.
The good news? Cognitive therapy, pioneered by psychologists like Aaron Beck and David Burns, offers a way out. By identifying and challenging these distortions, we can recalibrate our style of thinking, break the cycle, and pave the way for improved mental well-being.
So, as we delve deeper into this topic, we'll explore the psychological underpinnings of these distortions, their impact on mental health, and most importantly, strategies to dismantle them.
Key Insights:
In his book, "Feeling Good Handbook" (1989), David Burns identified 11 common cognitive distortions that can affect our thinking patterns. These distorted thinking styles can have a significant impact on our emotions, behaviors, and overall mental well-being. Here are the 11 common cognitive distortions with explanations and examples:
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking: This distortion involves believing that things are either all good or all bad, with no shades of gray. For example, thinking that getting a bad grade on an exam means you are a complete failure.
2. Overgeneralization: This distortion involves forming negative beliefs based on a single incident or piece of evidence. For example, believing that one rejection in a relationship means you will never find love.
3. Mental Filtering: With this distortion, individuals focus only on the negative details of a situation, while ignoring any positive aspects. For example, dwelling on a single criticism and dismissing numerous compliments.
4. Disqualifying the Positive: This distortion involves rejecting positive experiences or feedback as insignificant or invalid. For example, discounting compliments by saying they don't really mean it.
5. Jumping to Conclusions: This distortion involves making negative interpretations about situations without any evidence. This can take the form of mind-reading, assuming we know what others are thinking, or fortune-telling, predicting a negative outcome without any basis. For example, assuming someone is angry with you based on their facial expression without considering other possibilities.
6. Magnification and Minimization: This distortion involves exaggerating the importance of negative events or minimizing the significance of positive ones. For example, blowing a small mistake out of proportion while ignoring your accomplishments.
7. Emotional Reasoning: This distortion involves believing that our feelings define reality. For example, feeling anxious about giving a presentation and concluding that it will undoubtedly be a disaster.
8. Should Statements: This distortion involves having rigid rules about how things should or must be, often leading to guilt or frustration. For example, thinking, "I should always be perfect" or "He shouldn't have said that."
9. Labeling: This distortion involves assigning harsh and negative labels to oneself or others based on a single characteristic or behavior. For example, labeling yourself as a failure for making a mistake.
10. Personalization: This distortion involves taking responsibility or blaming oneself for events that are beyond personal control. For example, blaming yourself for someone else's bad mood.
11. Catastrophizing: This distortion involves always assuming the worst-case scenario and overestimating the negative impact of events. For example, believing that a minor inconvenience will completely ruin your day.
By recognizing these cognitive distortions, we can challenge and replace them with more balanced and realistic thoughts, leading to improved emotional well-being and more positive behaviors.
Recognizing distorted thoughts is the first step to challenging them and promoting healthier thinking patterns. By becoming aware of the cognitive distortions that may be present in our minds, we can start to reframe negative thoughts into more neutral or positive ones. Here are some strategies for identifying cognitive distortions in daily life:
1. Increase Awareness: Mindfulness practices such as meditation can help us observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment. By taking a step back and noticing our thinking patterns, we can identify any distortions that may be present.
2. Journaling: Keeping a journal can be an effective tool for uncovering cognitive distortions. By writing down our thoughts and experiences, we can reflect on them later and identify any patterns or distortions that may be influencing our thinking.
3. Pay Attention to Language: Be mindful of the language you use when talking to yourself or others. Look out for words like "always," "never," "should," or "must," as these may indicate all-or-nothing thinking or rigid beliefs.
4. Challenge Assumptions: Whenever you notice a negative thought or belief, ask yourself for evidence that supports or contradicts it. Consider alternative perspectives and seek out more balanced interpretations of events.
5. Get External Feedback: Share your thoughts and concerns with trusted friends or a therapist who can provide an objective viewpoint. They may be able to identify distortions that you may have missed.
By incorporating these strategies into our daily lives, we can become more adept at recognizing cognitive distortions and ultimately work towards cultivating a more positive and balanced mindset.
Cognitive distortions can subtly weave threads of mental health challenges, creating patterns that may not be immediately discernible. These distortions, characterized by skewed and often negative thought patterns, can lay the groundwork for various mental health issues, including depression and anxiety disorders.
Control Fallacies: A prevalent type of thinking among adolescents is control fallacies, where students either feel excessively in control or utterly powerless over events in their lives.
A student might think, “If only I had studied harder, I wouldn’t have failed,” placing undue pressure and blame on themselves. On the flip side, they might believe, “No matter what I do, I can’t succeed in this class,” fostering a sense of helplessness.
Frequency and Intensity: The frequency and intensity of these distortions play a crucial role. Occasional negative thoughts are a part of the human experience, but when these thoughts become pervasive and intense, they can contribute to the onset of mental illness.
Negative Thought Patterns: Prolonged engagement in negative thinking can create a fertile ground for mental health issues. Students stuck in these patterns may find themselves spiraling into depressive states, experiencing heightened anxiety, and struggling to break free from the grip of these distortions.
Practical Steps for Teachers:
By understanding the intricate link between cognitive distortions and student mental health, teachers can play a pivotal role in identifying early signs of mental health issues and providing the necessary support to navigate these challenging waters.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used and highly effective therapeutic approach for addressing cognitive distortions. It offers practical strategies and techniques to help individuals identify and challenge their distorted thinking patterns. By doing so, CBT promotes healthier and more balanced thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
In CBT, the therapist works collaboratively with the individual to identify and understand the cognitive distortions that contribute to their negative thoughts and beliefs. This process involves exploring the individual's thoughts and examining the evidence or lack thereof that supports these thoughts. By doing this, individuals can gain insight into their thinking patterns and recognize when their thoughts are distorted or inaccurate.
CBT employs several strategies to address cognitive distortions. One approach is cognitive restructuring, which involves challenging and restructuring negative or irrational thoughts. Through this process, individuals learn to replace distorted thoughts with more realistic and helpful ones. This technique helps them develop a more balanced perspective and reduces the impact of cognitive distortions on their emotions and behaviors.
Another technique used in CBT is thought recording. Individuals are encouraged to keep track of their thoughts and emotions in a journal or through another form of documentation. This practice allows individuals to examine their thoughts and identify any patterns or cognitive distortions that may be present. By becoming aware of these patterns, they can consciously challenge and reframe their distorted thinking.
CBT also emphasizes the use of behavioral experiments or homework assignments to test the validity of distorted thoughts and beliefs. By engaging in real-life experiences that challenge their cognitive distortions, individuals can gather actual evidence to evaluate the accuracy of their thoughts.
Overall, CBT provides individuals with the tools and techniques to identify and challenge their cognitive distortions. Through collaborative efforts with a therapist, individuals can develop healthier thinking patterns and experience positive changes in their emotions and behaviors.
Let's provide some fictional context to those insidious mental traps that can sabotage our emotional well-being. Recognizing and challenging these distortions is pivotal for mental well-being. The first step? Awareness. The second? Replacing these distortions with balanced, evidence-based thoughts. Here are five examples of what this might look like in practice.
1. Catastrophizing:
Picture Sarah, a 30-year-old marketing executive, who's running 10 minutes late for a crucial job interview. Her mind spirals into "Catastrophizing," as she thinks, "If I'm late, I'll botch the interview, never find another job, and end up homeless." The palpable tension manifests as sweaty palms and a racing heart, amplifying her anxiety to debilitating levels.
2. Personalization:
Next, meet Tom, a 40-year-old teacher. When his friend cancels their weekend plans, Tom's mind dives into "Personalization." He thinks, "He canceled because he finds me boring. I must've said something offensive last time." The result? A weekend spent ruminating, accompanied by a sinking feeling of guilt and plummeting self-esteem.
3. All-or-Nothing Thinking:
Then there's Emily, a 25-year-old graphic designer. She receives feedback on her project that's mostly positive but includes one minor critique. Her mind defaults to "All-or-Nothing Thinking," as she concludes, "I'm an utter failure. My career is going nowhere." She disregards her accomplishments, fixating solely on the critique, thereby eroding her self-confidence.
4. Mind Reading:
Consider also Raj, a 35-year-old software engineer, who walks into a cafeteria and sees a group of colleagues laughing. "Mind Reading" kicks in. He thinks, "They must be laughing at how awkward I am." No evidence, just a gut feeling that leaves him avoiding social gatherings, amplifying his social anxiety.
5. Filtering:
Lastly, envision Lisa, a 50-year-old nurse, who just led a successful community health workshop. She receives heaps of praise but fixates on one attendee's minor criticism. "Filtering" takes over, as she obsesses over that single negative comment, ignoring the overwhelming positive feedback, and ends up questioning her competence.
Key Insights:
Cognitive distortions can act as formidable barriers to academic achievement. They're not just the stuff of psychological textbooks; they're living, breathing entities that manifest in classrooms, shaping students' attitudes and behaviors in ways that can stifle their academic potential.
Cognitive distortions can have a significant impact on our thoughts, emotions, and overall well-being. However, with the right strategies, it is possible to overcome these distortions and cultivate a healthier thinking pattern. Here are some tips and techniques to help counter cognitive distortions:
1. Identify the distortion: Recognize when you are engaging in distorted thinking by being aware of the characteristic signs of cognitive distortions. Pay attention to negative thoughts and the patterns of thinking that accompany them.
2. Challenge negative thoughts: Once you have identified a cognitive distortion, challenge its validity by questioning the evidence supporting it. Ask yourself, "Is there any actual evidence to support this belief?" Often, you will find that these negative thoughts are based on assumptions or irrational fears.
3. Reframe the thought: Replace negative thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones. For example, if you catch yourself catastrophizing, reframe the thought by reminding yourself that the situation may not be as dire as it seems. Focus on the facts and consider alternative explanations.
4. Practice positive self-talk: Counter cognitive distortions by consciously replacing negative self-talk with positive and affirming statements. Encourage yourself, acknowledge your strengths, and remind yourself of past successes.
5. Seek support: Share your thoughts and experiences with a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. They can provide an objective perspective, help you challenge distortions, and offer alternative viewpoints.
By implementing these tips and techniques, you can gradually overcome cognitive distortions and develop a more positive and balanced thinking style. Remember, it takes practice and patience, but the benefits to your mental and emotional well-being are well worth the effort.
There's plenty of online articles to explore on this topic, these evidence-based articles will provide you with some deeper context:
1. Bollen, J., ten Thij, M., Breithaupt, F., Barron, A. T. J., Rutter, L., Lorenzo-Luaces, L., & Scheffer, M. (2021). Historical language records reveal a surge of cognitive distortions in recent decades. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Summary: Suggests an increase in cognitive distortions due to recent socioeconomic changes, new technology, and social media.
2. Kostoglou, S. L., & Pidgeon, A. M. (2016). The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire: Psychometric validation for an Australian population. Australian Journal of Psychology.
Summary: Validates the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) as a reliable tool for assessing cognitive distortions in an Australian population.
3. Gannon, T., & Polaschek, D. (2006). Cognitive distortions in child molesters: a re-examination of key theories and research. Clinical psychology review.
Summary: Calls for diverse research designs to better understand cognitive distortions in child molesters for effective clinical practice.
4. Sparkes Guglielmo, S. (2015). Cognitive Distortion: Propositions and Possible Worlds. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.
Summary: Explores the concept of cognitive distortions and proposes a working hypothesis defining its operational status and scope.
5. Helmond, P., Overbeek, G., Brugman, D., & Gibbs, J. (2015). A Meta-Analysis on Cognitive Distortions and Externalizing Problem Behavior. Criminal Justice and Behavior.
Summary: Finds that cognitive distortions are substantially linked to externalizing behavior, but a subsequent reduction in such behavior remains to be demonstrated.
