Automatic thoughts are most closely related to ...

• A. The therapist's interpretations of dreams.
• B. Deliberate, rational planning of behavior.
• C. Spontaneous thoughts in response to events that reflect cognitive distortions.
• D. Learned behavioral responses to reward.

Answer: (C)

Automatic thoughts are immediate, involuntary interpretations that arise in response to events. They happen spontaneously, without conscious planning, and they’re often shaped by cognitive distortions like overgeneralizing or catastrophizing. In CBT, these thoughts are the primary target because they directly influence emotions and actions. The option that describes spontaneous thoughts in response to events that reflect cognitive distortions best matches this pattern. It’s distinct from deliberate, rational planning (which is conscious problem-solving), dream interpretation (more psychodynamic), or learned behavioral responses to reward (operant conditioning).