Transcript THINKING TRAPS - Family and Community Medicine | College

Recognizing Thinking Traps
Focus on Radars
• Why styles – how we explain life
events
• Thinking traps – emotional holes we fall
into
• Emotional icebergs – sometimes you can
only see the tip
My Why Style Is:
When I think about the ‘Why’ beliefs I come up
with, my style of telling the story is probably
more of a:
• __ ME
• __ ALWAYS
• __ EVERYTHING
OR
OR
OR
__ NOT ME
__ NOT ALWAYS
__ NOT EVERYTHING
Activity – Getting Flexible (p. 31)
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Consider the following Events (adversities)
Each one has an explanation provided
Code the explanation for Explanatory Style
Please come up with two alternative explanations using
Flexibility
You’re having difficulty balancing work and home

My spouse/partner doesn’t want to do his/her share
You’re having trouble sticking to a healthful diet and
exercise program

There just aren’t enough hours in the day
You get into a shouting match with your teenaged child
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I haven’t been firm enough with him/her lately
© 2009 A.J. Shatté
Thinking Traps
Personalizing:
The tendency to automatically attribute the
cause of an event/adversity to one’s
personal characteristics or actions. A “Me”
person.
Thinking Traps
Externalizing:
The tendency to automatically attribute the
cause of an event/adversity to another
person or to circumstances. A “Not Me”.
Thinking Traps
Magnifying and Minimizing:
Exaggerating the importance of certain
aspects of a situation and
underestimating the importance of other
aspects. Like tunnel vision except that
the magnifier and minimizer sees all of
the picture, but distorts it. Not keeping
things in proportion.
Thinking Traps
Mind Reading:
Expecting another person to know what you
are thinking, or assuming that you know
what another person is thinking.
Practicing telepathy without a license.
Thinking Traps
Jumping to Conclusions:
Settling on a certain thought/belief when
there is little evidence to support it.
Thinking Traps
Tunnel Vision:
Focusing in on certain aspects of a situation
while screening out other salient aspects.
Failing to see the “big picture”
Thinking Traps
Overgeneralizing:
Jumping on Thought/Belief about global
qualities in oneself or others without the
evidence to support it. Character
assassination.
Thinking Traps
Emotional Reasoning:
Assuming that your emotions are accurate
indicators of the nature of an
event/adversity. (e.g., “I feel really
depressed, so this problem must be
uncontrollable”). Getting the
Thought↔Reaction arrows backwards.
Avoid the traps by learning to recognize them
before they trap you
Belief Systems in Action
North America is just now emerging from
one of the coldest seasons on record.
Meteorologists reported unprecedented
consecutive days of below-freezing
temperatures. Store owners also report
records -- the highest sales ever of snow
shovels.
© 2009 A.J. Shatté
W _ _ TER
© 2009 A.J. Shatté
Belief Systems in Action
In a city of great restaurants, the
“Garden Grove” is proving to be one of
the best. The menu is comprehensive
and the wine list is reasonably priced.
But this restaurant’s best asset is its
staff. I found them to be very attentive
and friendly.
© 2009 A.J. Shatté
W _ _ TER
© 2009 A.J. Shatté
Find Your Thinking Traps and
Avoid Them!!!