All-or-nothing is a very common cognitive distortion, described here:
Things are either all good or all bad, people are either perfect or failures, something new will either fix everything or be worthless. There is no middle ground; we place people and situations in “either/or” categories, with no shades of gray, or allowing for complexities. Watch out for absolute words like “always”, “never,” “totally,” etc. as indications of this kind of distortion.
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I was about to say that we all do all-or-nothing thinking, but perhaps there are some humans that don’t.
Is the Daily Bitch doing all-or-nothing thinking today?
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Technically, she is correct (as usual), but that kind of either-or thinking doesn’t reflect the vast diversity in the universe.
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Things aren’t alway either pizza or not pizza; they can also be sour candy and/or caviar.
Here’s what I find when I search for “all-or-nothing” thinking on YouTube.
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Do you do all-or-nothing thinking? And please don’t respond “always!”
Thanks to all who helped me create this all-or-nothing-thinking post, including YOU!
thanks annie, in this world, with so many different types of personal relationships, even children are confused with it, what are you, you are this, that, another, meanwhile on one seems able to explain it, maybe all or nothing is a reflection of lack of patience training, cheers, hope all is good, stay blessed, amen
Thanks for all of this, my friend.
Very few things are all or nothing to me, but I suppose civil rights is one of them – as long as it includes rights for women. I used to worry about those sections of the country where such rights had so long been denied. Worry, that is, that they would be stuck having to shed long-held beliefs about race, LBGTQetc, etc. and that perhaps we could grant them a little slack. But then I realized that those individual rights are to national interests as muskets are to AR-15s, in that the first are only possible in a pre-modern society. With train, planes and automobiles, what might seem right for one cannot be right for all.
I appreciate all that you share, Barbara.
I’ve trained several people at work and one of the first things I’ve tried to say in every case (though I don’t know if I always did) is “There’s an exception to every rule.” Mostly, though, I wanted them to understand that it’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Well, almost everyone.
You are always awesome, Chris.
Way back when there was Mystic Pizza and not so long ago there was Licorice Pizza and in between were a lot of other movies that for some reason didn’t hit me over the head in the same way, Ann. I know, that is a bit too much all-or-nothing thinking.
I love your thinking, my thoughtful friend.
All or nothing concept is a prejudice in itself. Hi, Ann.
Hi and it’s good to see you!
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You’re getting to be so good photographing Joan.
Thanks for all your kind comments, Maria!
I’m guilty of the all or nothing thinking, but I am working on not doing it!
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