COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS – OVERGENERALIZATION
In cognitive-behavioral therapy, we often examine the content of our thoughts, especially those linked to unpleasant emotional states. Through this process, we can identify cognitive distortions—logical errors and biased thinking patterns that can hinder our ability to recognize facts. Cognitive distortions are present in everyone, as they are a normal feature of automatic thoughts and usually go unnoticed. However, when these distortions are intense, they can reinforce negative emotions, complicate decision-making, and lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Often, a single automatic thought may contain several distortions. Some distortions are more characteristic of specific mental disorders.
One of the common distortions is overgeneralization.
Overgeneralization is characterized by the use of terms like “everything/everyone,” “nobody,” “always,” and “never.” For example:
– “It’s all my fault.”
– “Everyone is selfish.”
– “Nobody will ever love me.”
– “I will always feel bad.”
– “Nothing ever works out for me.”
In overgeneralization, we apply our beliefs to many situations, people, and events. It is also present when drawing broad conclusions from single events or negative experiences. For instance, after failing an exam, we might conclude that we “fail at everything in life.” This distortion is also found in stereotypes, such as “All women are bad drivers” or “All men are incapable of taking care of children.”
In cognitive-behavioral therapy, we aim to identify the distortions typical of our thinking, recognize their consequences, and work on making our thinking more flexible—for example, by seeking alternative thoughts or exploring new experiences.
Integra Mente Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Center in Kraków is a team of cognitive-behavioral psychologists and psychotherapists. We offer psychological help and cognitive-behavioral therapy in Kraków and online.
We work in Polish, English, and Spanish.
English-speaking psychologists and cognitive-behavioral therapists based in Cracow, Poland. We also offer online psychotherapy and counseling.
Consulta psicológica y terapia en español en Cracovia u online.
To make an appointment, please contact us at:
+ 48 882 511 914 (calls/SMS/WhatsApp)
or via contact form (Contact) on integramente.pl
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