In cognitive-behavioral theory, which sequence best describes the cognitive triangle?

• A. Feelings trigger thoughts, which drive actions, which reinforce feelings.
• B. Our interpretations (thoughts) directly trigger emotional responses (feelings), which drive our actions (behaviors), which then reinforce the original thoughts.
• C. Events cause emotions directly without involving thoughts.
• D. Behaviors determine feelings, which determine thoughts.

Answer: (B)

In CBT, the cognitive triangle shows how our mind’s interpretation of a situation drives how we feel and what we do, with the outcomes of our actions looping back to shape our thoughts. The sequence goes: our interpretations (thoughts) about an event trigger emotional responses (feelings), which then drive our actions (behaviors). The consequences of those actions can reinforce or modify the original thoughts, creating a feedback loop. This is why changing how we think about a situation can change both how we feel and how we behave.

The other patterns don’t fit as well because they place the direction of influence in the wrong order: emotions evolving before thoughts, events affecting us directly without cognitive appraisal, or behavior determining both feelings and thoughts rather than being driven by our interpretations first.