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 OR __ NOT ME• __ ALWAYS OR __ NOT ALWAYS• __ EVERYTHING OR __ NOT EVERYTHING

© 2009 A.J. Shatté

Activity – Getting Flexible (p. 31)

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 I haven’t been firm enough with him/her lately

Thinking Traps

Personalizing:

The tendency to automatically attribute the cause of an event/adversity to one’s

personal characteristics or actions. A “Me” person.

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

ME ME

Thinking Traps

Externalizing:

The tendency to automatically attribute the cause of an event/adversity to another

person or to circumstances. A “Not Me”.

YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU YOU

YOU YOU YOUYOUYOUYOUYOU

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

© 2009 A.J. Shatté

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

Find Your Thinking Traps and Avoid Them!!!