Cognitive distortions. mental filter, mind reading

The mental filter, mind reading, and personalization are cognitive distortions that skew the way we process social and personal information, often leading to negative interpretations that fuel anxiety and distress.

Mental Filter (Selective Abstraction)

The mental filter, also known as selective abstraction, is the tendency to focus exclusively on the negative details of a situation, magnifying them, while ignoring or dismissing all positive or neutral information.

It's like seeing the world through dark glasses that only allow you to see the bad.

For example, a person may receive multiple praises for a job done, but if there is a small criticism or an aspect that was not perfect, they will focus only on that negative detail, feeling like a failure and ignoring all positive comments.

This selective filter leads to a distorted and pessimistic view of reality, as the positive aspects are lost sight of and generalizes negativity.

Mind Reading (Arbitrary Inference)

Mind reading is the belief that you know what other people are thinking or feeling, without having sufficient evidence for it, and often assuming negative intentions or judgments.

It is a form of arbitrary inference where people jump to conclusions about the mental states of others.

For example, if someone does not greet you enthusiastically, the person with this distortion might think, "I bet they're mad at me" or "They think I'm a bore," without considering other possible explanations (such as that the other person was distracted, preoccupied, or simply didn't see them properly).

This tendency to assume the worst about others' intentions or thoughts creates social anxiety and can lead to misunderstandings and conflict in relationships.

Personalization

Personalization is the tendency to relate external events to oneself in a self-centered way, and often Negative, without a logical basis for doing so.

It involves taking responsibility for or causing negative events over which one has little or no control, or interpreting neutral comments or actions of others as if they were personally directed.

For example, if a friend seems sad, the person with this distortion might think, "Surely it's because of something I did or said."

Or if a problem occurs at work that involved several people, they might assume all the blame.

Personalization leads to an excessive burden of responsibility and inappropriate feelings of guilt or shame,because one's own influence on external events and the feelings of others is overestimated.