Jarl makes several minor mistakes during his conversational French class. Instead of thinking, “everyone makes mistakes sometimes,” he thinks, “I am so stupid.” What kind of cognitive distortion is this?
Question 94 options:
overgeneralization
beating a dead horse
all-or-nothing thinking
jumping to conclusions
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: overgeneralization
Explanation:
Jarl’s reaction, “I am so stupid,” in response to making a few mistakes in his French class, reflects a classic cognitive distortion known as overgeneralization.
Overgeneralization occurs when someone draws a broad, sweeping conclusion based on a single event or a small piece of evidence. In Jarl’s case, he made several minor mistakes, which is a completely normal part of learning a new language. However, instead of viewing these mistakes as isolated incidents or part of the learning process, he interprets them as evidence of a fixed, negative trait about himself—believing that he is “stupid.”
This distortion is common in individuals who struggle with self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. It leads to forming negative conclusions that are not supported by the full scope of reality. For instance, one poor performance in a specific setting (like making language errors in class) becomes the basis for a global judgment about oneself (e.g., being unintelligent). The mind dismisses all the other instances where the person may have done well or demonstrated competence.
Let’s consider what a healthier thought process might look like: Jarl could have said to himself, “Everyone makes mistakes when learning something new. Mistakes help me grow.” This kind of balanced thinking avoids overgeneralization and allows for more self-compassion and resilience.
Differentiating from other options:
- All-or-nothing thinking refers to viewing situations in black-or-white terms (e.g., “If I’m not perfect, I’m a total failure”). While similar, Jarl isn’t setting a perfect standard and failing to meet it; he’s making a broad negative judgment about himself.
- Jumping to conclusions involves making negative assumptions without evidence, such as assuming people are judging you without them saying so.
- Beating a dead horse refers to dwelling on or repeating an issue unnecessarily, not applicable here.
Therefore, overgeneralization best describes Jarl’s distorted thinking.