Common Cognitive Distortions Exam Questions and Correct Answers Latest Update 2024 (Already
Passed)
Cognitive distortions - Answers are exaggerated or irrational thought patterns that are believed to
perpetuate the effects of psychopathological states, especially depression and anxiety
Cognitive distortions are - Answers thoughts that cognitive therapists believe cause individuals to
perceive reality inaccurately. These thinking patterns often are said to reinforce negative thoughts or
emotions.[2] Cognitive distortions tend to interfere with the way a person perceives an event. Because
the way a person feels intervenes with how they think, these distorted thoughts can feed negative
emotions and lead an individual affected by cognitive distortions towards an overall negative outlook on
the world and consequently a depressive or anxious mental state.
1. Personalizing. - Answers Taking something personally that may not be personal. Seeing events as
consequences of your actions when there are other possibilities. For example, believing someone's
brusque tone must be because they're irritated with you.
2. Mindreading. - Answers Guessing what someone else is thinking, when they may not be thinking that.
3. Negative predictions. - Answers Overestimating the likelihood that an action will have a negative
outcome.
4. Underestimating coping ability. - Answers Underestimating your ability cope with negative events.
5. Catastrophizing. - Answers Thinking of unpleasant events as catastrophes.
6. Biased attention toward signs of social rejection, and lack of attention to signs of social acceptance. -
Answers For example, during social interactions, paying attention to someone yawning but not paying
the same degree of attention to other cues that suggest they are interested in what you're saying (such
as them leaning in)
7. Negatively biased recall of social encounters. - Answers Remembering negatives from a social
situation and not remembering positives. For example, remembering losing your place for a few seconds
while giving a talk but not remembering the huge clap you got at the end.
8. Thinking an absence of effusiveness means something is wrong. - Answers believing an absence of a
smiley-face in an email means someone is mad at you. Or, interpreting "You did a good job" as negative
if you were expecting "You did a great job."
9. Unrelenting standards. - Answers The belief that achieving unrelentingly high standards is necessary
to avoid a catastrophe. For example, the belief that making any mistakes will lead to your colleagues
thinking you're useless.
10. Entitlement beliefs. - Answers Believing the same rules that apply to others should not apply to you.
For example, believing you shouldn't need to do an internship even if that is the normal path to
employment in your industry.
, 11. Justification and moral licensing. - Answers For example, I've made progress toward my goal and
therefore it's ok if I act in a way that is inconsistent with it.
12. Belief in a just world. - Answers For example, believing that poor people must deserve to be poor.
13. Seeing a situation only from your own perspective. - Answers For example, failing to look at a topic
of relationship tension from your partner's perspective.
14. Belief that self-criticism is an effective way to motivate yourself toward better future behavior. -
Answers It's not.
15. Recognizing feelings as causes of behavior, but not equally attending to how behavior influences
thoughts and feelings. - Answers For example, you think "When I have more energy, I'll exercise" but not
"Exercising will give me more energy."
16. All or nothing thinking. - Answers e.g., "If I don't always get As, I'm a complete failure."
17. Shoulds and musts. - Answers For example, "I should always give 100%." Sometimes there are no
important benefits of doing a task beyond a basic acceptable level.
18. Using feelings as the basis of a judgment, when the objective evidence does not support your
feelings. - Answers e.g., "I don't feel clean, even though I've washed my hands three times. Therefore I
should wash my again." (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder example).
19. Basing future decisions on "sunk costs." - Answers e.g., investing more money in a business that is
losing money because you've invested so much already.
20. Delusions. - Answers Holding a fixed, false belief despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. For
example, believing global warming doesn't exist. Or, believing you're overweight when you're 85lbs.
21. Assuming your current feelings will stay the same in the future. - Answers For example, "I feel unable
to cope today, and therefore I will feel unable to cope tomorrow."
22. Cognitive labeling. - Answers For example, mentally labeling your sister's boyfriend as a "loser" and
not being open to subsequent evidence suggesting he isn't a loser.
23. The Halo Effect. - Answers For example, perceiving high calories foods as lower in calories if they're
accompanied by a salad.
24. Minimizing. - Answers e.g., "Yes I won an important award but that still doesn't really mean I'm
accomplished in my field."
25. Magnifying (Cognitively Exaggerating). - Answers For example, blowing your own mistakes and flaws
out of proportion and perceiving them as more significant than they are.
Passed)
Cognitive distortions - Answers are exaggerated or irrational thought patterns that are believed to
perpetuate the effects of psychopathological states, especially depression and anxiety
Cognitive distortions are - Answers thoughts that cognitive therapists believe cause individuals to
perceive reality inaccurately. These thinking patterns often are said to reinforce negative thoughts or
emotions.[2] Cognitive distortions tend to interfere with the way a person perceives an event. Because
the way a person feels intervenes with how they think, these distorted thoughts can feed negative
emotions and lead an individual affected by cognitive distortions towards an overall negative outlook on
the world and consequently a depressive or anxious mental state.
1. Personalizing. - Answers Taking something personally that may not be personal. Seeing events as
consequences of your actions when there are other possibilities. For example, believing someone's
brusque tone must be because they're irritated with you.
2. Mindreading. - Answers Guessing what someone else is thinking, when they may not be thinking that.
3. Negative predictions. - Answers Overestimating the likelihood that an action will have a negative
outcome.
4. Underestimating coping ability. - Answers Underestimating your ability cope with negative events.
5. Catastrophizing. - Answers Thinking of unpleasant events as catastrophes.
6. Biased attention toward signs of social rejection, and lack of attention to signs of social acceptance. -
Answers For example, during social interactions, paying attention to someone yawning but not paying
the same degree of attention to other cues that suggest they are interested in what you're saying (such
as them leaning in)
7. Negatively biased recall of social encounters. - Answers Remembering negatives from a social
situation and not remembering positives. For example, remembering losing your place for a few seconds
while giving a talk but not remembering the huge clap you got at the end.
8. Thinking an absence of effusiveness means something is wrong. - Answers believing an absence of a
smiley-face in an email means someone is mad at you. Or, interpreting "You did a good job" as negative
if you were expecting "You did a great job."
9. Unrelenting standards. - Answers The belief that achieving unrelentingly high standards is necessary
to avoid a catastrophe. For example, the belief that making any mistakes will lead to your colleagues
thinking you're useless.
10. Entitlement beliefs. - Answers Believing the same rules that apply to others should not apply to you.
For example, believing you shouldn't need to do an internship even if that is the normal path to
employment in your industry.
, 11. Justification and moral licensing. - Answers For example, I've made progress toward my goal and
therefore it's ok if I act in a way that is inconsistent with it.
12. Belief in a just world. - Answers For example, believing that poor people must deserve to be poor.
13. Seeing a situation only from your own perspective. - Answers For example, failing to look at a topic
of relationship tension from your partner's perspective.
14. Belief that self-criticism is an effective way to motivate yourself toward better future behavior. -
Answers It's not.
15. Recognizing feelings as causes of behavior, but not equally attending to how behavior influences
thoughts and feelings. - Answers For example, you think "When I have more energy, I'll exercise" but not
"Exercising will give me more energy."
16. All or nothing thinking. - Answers e.g., "If I don't always get As, I'm a complete failure."
17. Shoulds and musts. - Answers For example, "I should always give 100%." Sometimes there are no
important benefits of doing a task beyond a basic acceptable level.
18. Using feelings as the basis of a judgment, when the objective evidence does not support your
feelings. - Answers e.g., "I don't feel clean, even though I've washed my hands three times. Therefore I
should wash my again." (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder example).
19. Basing future decisions on "sunk costs." - Answers e.g., investing more money in a business that is
losing money because you've invested so much already.
20. Delusions. - Answers Holding a fixed, false belief despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. For
example, believing global warming doesn't exist. Or, believing you're overweight when you're 85lbs.
21. Assuming your current feelings will stay the same in the future. - Answers For example, "I feel unable
to cope today, and therefore I will feel unable to cope tomorrow."
22. Cognitive labeling. - Answers For example, mentally labeling your sister's boyfriend as a "loser" and
not being open to subsequent evidence suggesting he isn't a loser.
23. The Halo Effect. - Answers For example, perceiving high calories foods as lower in calories if they're
accompanied by a salad.
24. Minimizing. - Answers e.g., "Yes I won an important award but that still doesn't really mean I'm
accomplished in my field."
25. Magnifying (Cognitively Exaggerating). - Answers For example, blowing your own mistakes and flaws
out of proportion and perceiving them as more significant than they are.
