In CBT, cognitive distortions are viewed as:

• A. Distortions are random, harmless thoughts.
• B. Distortions are patterns of faulty thinking that can be changed to improve well-being.
• C. Distortions are only about memories, not current thoughts.
• D. Distortions are fixed and cannot be modified.

Answer: (B)

In CBT, cognitive distortions are patterns of faulty thinking that shape how you interpret events and influence emotional well-being. They’re not random or harmless; they’re automatic, habitual ways of interpreting situations that often overestimate danger, blame, or negative outcomes. Importantly, they’re not fixed or unchangeable—the whole point of CBT is that these thoughts can be identified, challenged, and reframed to reduce distress. Through techniques like thought records, examining evidence for and against a belief, and testing beliefs with behavioral experiments, you learn that these distortions are distortions, not facts, and you develop more balanced interpretations.