Which statement best describes the features of cognitive distortions?

• A. Flexible thinking that integrates multiple viewpoints.
• B. Rigid, absolutized, dichotomized, and/or negativistic thinking.
• C. Focus on external rewards only.
• D. Complete absence of negative schemas.

Answer: (B)

Cognitive distortions are biased thinking patterns that distort reality by being rigid and extreme. The description of distortions as rigid, absolutized, dichotomized, and/or negativistic thinking captures how these thoughts tend to snap things into all-or-nothing categories, view situations in an overly negative way, and ignore nuance. In CBT, identifying this tendency is crucial because it explains why people stay upset: the mind is sticking to black-and-white, catastrophic interpretations rather than balanced, evidence-based ones. For example, thoughts like “If I don’t succeed completely, I’ve failed,” or “Everything always goes wrong” illustrate this tendency. Flexible thinking, rather than this rigid pattern, helps reframe experiences more accurately. Focusing on external rewards describes reinforcement, not cognitive patterns. An absence of negative schemas would imply no underlying negative beliefs, which isn’t accurate—distortions often ride on negative beliefs but skew interpretation through rigid, absolutist thinking.