Which statement best describes automatic thoughts?

• A. Automatic thoughts are deep-seated core beliefs.
• B. Automatic thoughts are momentary interpretations of events.
• C. Automatic thoughts are always accurate interpretations.
• D. Automatic thoughts are the same as emotions.

Answer: (B)

In cognitive-behavioral therapy, automatic thoughts are quick, spontaneous interpretations we make in response to events. They pop up in the moment, are often shaped by our existing beliefs, and can be biased or distorted without conscious effort. They are the immediate cognitive content that accompanies our emotions, not the deeper, more stable beliefs we hold about ourselves or the world.

The statement that best describes automatic thoughts is that they are momentary interpretations of events. This captures their brief, incident-by-incident nature and how they arise in response to something happening. They aren’t deep-seated core beliefs, which are broader and more durable, nor are they guaranteed to be accurate, since they can reflect cognitive distortions. They aren’t the same as emotions, which are the feelings themselves; automatic thoughts are the thinking that accompanies those feelings.