COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus 

                                CIIT, Defence Road ,off Raiwind Road , Lahore  

________________________________________________________________________ 

                                                                 Course title:- 
                                      (Mental Health& Psychopathology 1) 
                                               
                          Submitted by:     Ayesha yaqoob
                         Registration number     FA20-BPY-049(A)
                          Submitted to:    Mam Zaeema Farooq
                        Submission date   June 15,2022
 

Assignment #4
Question
Elaborate on any ten cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing, jumping to conclusions, all
or none thinking, magnification etc. with examples.

Answer
Cognitive distortions are habitual ways of thinking that are often inaccurate and
negatively biased. Cognitive distortions usually develop over time in response
to adverse events.
1. All-or-nothing thinking
All-or-nothing thinking is also known as black and white thinking or polarized
thinking. This type of thinking involves viewing things in absolute terms:
Situations are always black or white, everything or nothing, good or bad,
success or failure.
For example, Joan feels like a failure at school. Every time she makes a
mistake, instead of acknowledging the error and trying to move past it, she
gives up and assumes that she'll never be able to do well.
2. Overgeneralization
Overgeneralization happens when you make a rule after a single event or a
series of coincidences.4 The words "always" or "never" frequently appear in the
sentence. Because you have experience with one event playing out a certain
way, you assume that all future events will have the same outcome.
For example, jhon has inferred from a series of coincidences that seven is his
lucky number and has overgeneralized this to gambling situations involving the
number seven, no matter how many times he loses.
3. Mental filter
 Mental filter is the opposite of overgeneralization, but with the same negative
outcome.6 Instead of taking one small event and generalizing it inappropriately,
the mental filter takes one small event and focuses on it exclusively, filtering
out anything else.This type of cognitive distortion can contribute to problems
including addiction, anxiety, poor self-belief, and interpersonal problems,
among other issues.
For example, Nathan focuses on all of the negative or hurtful things that his
partner has said or done in their relationship, but he filters all the kind and
thoughtful things his partner does. This thinking contributes to feelings of
negativity about his partner and their relationship.
 4. Discounting the positive
Discounting the positive is a cognitive distortion that involves ignoring or
invalidating good things that have happened to you.It is similar to mental
filtering, but instead of simply ignoring the positives, you are actively rejecting
them.
For example, Joel completes a project and receives an award for his
outstanding work. Rather than feeling proud of his achievement, he attributes it
to pure luck that has nothing to do with his talent and effort.
5. Magnification
Magnification is exaggerating the importance of shortcomings and
problems while minimizing the importance of desirable qualities. Similar to
mental filtering and discounting the positive, this cognitive distortion involves
magnifying your negative qualities while minimizing your positive ones.
Example, a person addicted to pain medication might magnify the importance
of eliminating all pain, and exaggerate how unbearable their pain is.
6. Emotional reasoning
Emotional reasoning is a way of judging yourself or your
circumstances based on your emotions. For instance, Jenna used emotional
reasoning to conclude that she was a worthless person, which in turn led
to binge eating.This type of reasoning assumes that because you are
experiencing a negative emotion, it must be an accurate reflection of reality. If
you feel experience feelings of guilt, For example, emotional reasoning would
lead you to conclude that you are a bad person.
7. Labeling
Labeling is a cognitive distortion that involves making a judgment about
yourself or someone else as a person, rather than seeing the behavior as
something the person did that doesn't define them as an individual.
For example, you might label yourself as a failure. You can also label other
people as well. You might decide that someone is a jerk because of one
interaction and continue to judge them in all future interactions through that lens
with no room for redemption.
8. Personalization and blame
Personalization and blame is a cognitive distortion
whereby you entirely blame yourself, or someone else, for a situation that
in reality involved many factors that were out of your control.
 For example, Anna blamed herself for her daughter's bad grade in
school. Instead of trying to find out why her daughter is struggling and
exploring ways to help, Anna assumes it is a sign that she is a bad
mother.
9. Jumping to conclusion
There are two ways of jumping to conclusions:
 Mind reading: When you think someone is going to react in a particular
way, or you believe someone is thinking things that they aren't
 Fortune telling: When you predict events will unfold in a particular way,
often to avoid trying something difficult
For example: Jamie engaged in fortune-telling when he believed that he
wouldn't be able to stand life without heroin. In reality, he could and he did.
10.Catastrophizing
Catastrophizing is a way of thinking called a ‘cognitive distortion.’ A person
who catastrophizes usually sees an unfavorable outcome to an event and then
decides that if this outcome does happen, the results will be a disaster.
For examples: If I fail this test, I will never pass school, and I will be a total
failure in life.” “If I don't recover quickly from this procedure, I will never get
better, and I will be disabled my entire life.”
Question
Fill in the thought record form for at least a week (7 days) regarding significant events and
identify the cognitive distortion in them.
Situation Feelings Thoughts Cognitive Distortion
Who, what, when What did you feel? What was going
and where? through your mind
Identify any
when you started to
cognitive distortion.
feel this way?
On last Monday I I felt so disappointed. How can she do this Mental filter
came to know that to me?
my beloved friend
meet with the person
I hate and she know
it very well that I
hate that person but
she didn’t care.
On previous I felt happy. Yes! I knew it I Over-generalization
Monday, I was would definitely get
playing Ludo with that number.
my sister and I used
to roll the dice with
left hand because
whenever I want
number 6 I can get it
by rolling dice with
left hand. This
gesture proved to be
lucky for me as
usual.
I had quiz on I felt so sad. That’s all because of Over-generalization
Tuesday, I know that sitting there.
whenever I sit at
front, I don't do my
best. Same happened
this time and I
couldn't get good
marks in quiz just
because of sitting
there.
In a subject, I've I felt extremely I won’t recover it and Magnification
attempted all the sorrowed. would get my desired
quizzes and cgpa.
assignments of this
semester and I
wanted to get 4 cgpa
in that subject. I have
also got good marks
in mid term exams
but last Tuesday I
bunked a class of this
course. That was an
important class that
I've skipped.
I was about to play a It hurt me a lot. I felt When I cheated on Labelling
game with my so embarrassed. her? Why is she
friends group last saying like this?
Wednesday and a
group mate said,
She's a cheater I'll not
play with her.
A girl in our I felt angry. She always do like Labelling
neighbor, on this. How sharp she
Wednesday, came to thinks of herself?
my home and said
my mother is asking
for hundred rupees.
That girl used to do
this so I said to her,
"No, she's not asking
to, you're a liar."
My sister had a one I felt guilty about it. That’s all because of Blaming or
dish parry and she me. If I had sewed it personalization
asked me to make a before , it had not
biryani bur I didn’t happened.
make it due to my
personal illness.
I had two quizzes on I felt anxious. How stupid I’m. I Catastrophizing
Thursday, but I would have to study
missed my bus and that course again.
couldn't go to
university. Although
I've good marks in
that subject in other
course tasks. But I
don't think so, I
would pass that
subject.
I've some medical I felt guilty of I’ve once told a lie, All or none thinking
issues due to which manipulating before they won’t trust me
junk food is them . again.
prohibited. I had
burger in my lunch
on Thursday in
University. My
mother asked me if
I've eaten a burger. I
said no. But my
brother told her that I
had so.
I was on a hangout I felt ashamed. I’m not a good Emotional Reasoning
with my friends on daughter. How can I
Friday. We enjoyed tell a lie over that
and had lunch there. little thing.
When I came home,
my mother asked to
bring food, I said”
No, I'm not hungry".
She said "Have you
did your lunch from
university." I said
"yes." I told a lie to
her.
I made biryani I felt doubtful. That’s by chance. I Discounting the
yesterday, it was so can’t make it like positive
delicious, my mother that next time.
said “that’s so tasty."
But I couldn't get the
credit.
I had a farewell I felt sad for her as She won’t stop that. Jumping to the
yesterday. I had worn she was thinking of It’s her nature which conclusion
a beautiful dress that herself being so can’t be changed.
everyone praised. A sharp.
department fellow
came to me and said,
“that doesn't suit you
much." She's used to
get jealous from me,
so I couldn't believe
her because I know
she's just saying that
out of jealousy to
make me
uncomfortable.
Yesterday, I enjoyed I felt sad and my I’m not looking Discounting the
a lot the whole day in mood got off. good. My whole day positive
the preparation of my was worthless and
farewell party. has been ruined.
Morning till
everything was
perfect and I was
happy. But in the
evening a friend
complimented me
that I was looking
fat. All other were
praising but my
mood got off just
because of that
compliment.
Today, I played a I felt disappointed. I can’t play that Catastrophizing
game with my game. It’s so
friends and got out at difficult. I’m not that
first attempt. much able to
understand that
difficult game.
I was taking a quiz I felt so angry. It is all because of Personalization or
today. A friend of her. If she had not blame
mine was sitting in been looking at my
front of me. She was paper, I would’ve got
continuously looking good marks.
at paper of which I
was unaware.
Teacher took papers
of both of us and
deducted marks.