Mental Filter
The information handout explores the 'mental filter' cognitive distortion, whereby individuals appraise an experience by focusing on a single detail, which is taken out of context and magnified, while discounting or ignoring other details.
Mental Filter
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 mental filter.
Overview
Cognitive distortions, cognitive biases, or ‘unhelpful thinking styles’ are characteristic ways in which our thoughts can become biased (Beck, 1963). Once these biases have been identified, clients can be taught to appraise the accuracy of these automatic thoughts and draw new conclusions.
Mental filter (also referred to as ‘selective abstraction’) is defined as appraising an experience by focusing on a single detail, which is taken out of context and magnified. At the same time, other salient details are discounted or ignored, so people fail to see the ‘whole picture’ when making sense of their experiences.
The Mental Filter 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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Part of a complete library of evidence-based tools
Worksheets, guides, audio resources and interactive digital tools for mental health professionals.