Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Basics III: All or Nothing Thinking
In the last post, we took a quick peek at the list of 10 cognitive distortions. Let’s dive in a little deeper.
Today we’ll look at the first cognitive distortion on the list: All or Nothing Thinking.
In All or Nothing Thinking, a single imperfection equates to total failure. It’s a view that demands total perfection in absolute, black or white terms. People who tend toward this distortion see events as completely good or completely bad, and see themselves as complete successes or complete failures.
Example One: Bob the Tennis Pro
Bob is a young, professional tennis player. He is very good and has a promising future. His record is stellar — he has many wins under his belt and no losses. But then he loses a match. He thinks: This loss proves I’m not a good tennis player. I’m a failure.
Example Two: Love-struck Sue
Sue has started a new romantic relationship. One day she suggests an outing to her new boyfriend, but he declines. She’s crushed. She thinks: Either he loves me or he doesn’t. This proves he doesn’t.
Example Three: Jeff and the Problematic Code
Jeff is a programmer. He has worked for the same well-known technology company for many years. One day at lunch, his colleagues point out a flaw in the design of one of his programs. He thinks: I always mess up.
In the next post, we’ll take a closer look at the next cognitive distortion on the list: Over-generalizing.
September 30th, 2007 at 9:59 am
[...] III. Distortion One - All Or Nothing Thinking [...]