Jumping To Conclusions
The information handout describes jumping to conclusions – a cognitive distortion where individuals make hasty decisions or reach inaccurate conclusions that are not supported by the facts of a situation.
Jumping To Conclusions
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) suggests that our thoughts influence how we feel and how we act. However, some of our thoughts can be biased. Recognizing these ‘cognitive distortions’ or ‘unhelpful thinking styles’ can help you judge how accurate and useful your automatic thoughts are. This tool will introduce you to a common distortion called jumping to conclusions.
Overview
Cognitive distortions, cognitive biases, or ‘unhelpful thinking styles’ are characteristic ways in which our thoughts can become biased (Beck, 1963). Jumping to conclusions (JTC) is a cognitive distortion in which individuals make hasty decisions or reach inaccurate conclusions that are unwarranted by the facts of a situation. This thinking style usually takes two forms. First, people sometimes make "premature decisions." This means they might stop gathering information too soon or fail to consider all the facts, which can lead to wrong conclusions. Second, people might "over-adjust" their thinking by changing their decisions based on very little evidence that contradicts what they initially believed.
The Jumping To Conclusions information handout forms part of the cognitive distortions series, designed to help clients and therapists to work more effectively with common thinking biases.
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