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?
all-or-nothing thinking
beating a
jumping to conclusions
overgeneralization
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: overgeneralization
Explanation:
Overgeneralization is a type of cognitive distortion where an individual draws broad, sweeping conclusions based on a single event or a limited piece of evidence. In the scenario presented, Jarl makes a few minor mistakes during a French class and instead of recognizing these as typical learning experiences, he interprets them as a sign of personal inadequacy by thinking, “I am so stupid.” This thought process is a classic example of overgeneralization.
Rather than seeing his mistakes as isolated or as part of the normal learning process (which would be a more realistic and balanced perspective), Jarl takes the mistakes and extrapolates them to mean something negative about his entire intelligence or worth. This distortion can be harmful because it reinforces low self-esteem, discourages learning, and often leads to increased anxiety and depression. Over time, repeated overgeneralizations can shape one’s self-concept in negative ways.
Let’s break it down further:
- Event: Jarl makes a few mistakes while speaking French.
- Distorted Thought: “I am so stupid.”
- Distortion: Instead of interpreting the mistakes as a common occurrence in language learning, Jarl overgeneralizes them to his entire identity or intelligence level.
This differs from other cognitive distortions:
- All-or-nothing thinking would sound like: “If I’m not perfect in French, I’m a total failure.”
- Jumping to conclusions might sound like: “Everyone in class must think I’m dumb.”
- Beating a dead horse isn’t a cognitive distortion—it’s an idiom, not relevant in this context.
Recognizing overgeneralization is important in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because correcting this distortion can help individuals form more accurate, helpful, and self-compassionate thoughts. In Jarl’s case, a healthier thought would be, “It’s normal to make mistakes while learning. I can improve with practice.”