Emotional reasoning. [if i feel it, it's true]

Emotional reasoning is a cognitive bias that leads a person to interpret reality and draw conclusions based primarily on the intensity of his or her feelings, rather than on objective evidence or verifiable facts.

Under the influence of this bias, emotions become the irrefutable proof of the veracity of a thought or situation, following the implicit logic of "if I feel it so strongly, then it must be true."

Emotion as Evidence

When emotional reasoning operates, emotions cease to be simple affective states and become supposed evidence of external or internal reality.

A person who experiences intense anxiety when confronted with a situation, such as public speaking, may conclude that public speaking is inherently dangerous or that he or she will inevitably make a fool of him or herself.

This occurs based solely on the strength of their sense of fear, without considering other factors such as their preparation or previous experiences.

Similarly, a feeling of guilt may lead to the automatic conclusion that a serious fault has been committed.

Likewise, the feeling that a partner no longer feels love can be interpreted as definitive proof of an impending breakup, even in the absence of concrete behaviors or facts to support such an idea.

Consequences of Emotional Reasoning

This pattern of thinking can have significant consequences on well-being and decision making.

By taking emotions as facts, there is a risk of intensifying negative emotional states; for example, if anxiety is interpreted as evidence of real danger, anxiety will increase, creating a vicious cycle.

It leads to misinterpretations of situations and other people's intentions, and can lead to maladaptive decisions, as these are based on momentary feelings rather than objective analysis.

Emotional reasoning can fuel procrastination ("I feel overwhelmed by this task, therefore, it is impossible to accomplish"), avoidance of