Automatic Thoughts

insatiable · Nov 6, 2008

Dear guys, could someone help me on the difference between 'Overgeneraliztion', 'Magnification', and 'Catastrophic Thinking'? These three concepts come from class of Psychiatric Nursing, when we discussed cognitive therapy topic.
Actually I thought all of them mean "thinking bad aspect" ....
Thanks for any help!!!!!!!

Overgeneralizations are usually broad negative statements (well they can be positive too, but generally are negative because overgeneralizations tend to play into stereotypes that people have about others based on their experiences). For example, maybe a female patient of yours has had bad experiences with men in her life and she makes the statement " I dont want a man to be my nurse because no man cant be trusted". You might challenge her irrational thought by asking her to name one good man in her life or one good experience with a man to help her gain insight that not ALL men are bad.

Magnification occurs when invididuals view small mistakes/problems/etc as bigger than what they really are. Have you ever heard of the saying "making a mountain out of a mole hill"? On the flip side, people will also minimize problems. People that are minimizing thier behaviors lack insight into how thier behavior is affecting not only thier life but also others around them. An easy example of minimizing would be someone with an addiction making a statement like "I dont even drink that much, I can control it", when in reality theyre drinking everyday and have 3 DUIs.

Catastrophic thinking is like a more severe form of magnification where people view events in black or white...all or nothing...good or bad...success or fail...etc etc. Perfectionists exhibit this type of thinking. For example, a nursing student gets an 93 on a biology test but is distraught because he/she missed 7 points. Then the individual thinks well Im going to fail this class, then I wont be able to become a nurse, I will have wasted my money on college for nothing, Ill never have a good job, etc etc...you get the point. Catastrophic thinking happens pretty frequently with people that have depression or anxiety.

Hope that helps some

micstn · Nov 6, 2008

It Really help me out, THX a Lot

Overgeneralizations are usually broad negative statements (well they can be positive too, but generally are negative because overgeneralizations tend to play into stereotypes that people have about others based on their experiences). For example, maybe a female patient of yours has had bad experiences with men in her life and she makes the statement " I dont want a man to be my nurse because no man cant be trusted". You might challenge her irrational thought by asking her to name one good man in her life or one good experience with a man to help her gain insight that not ALL men are bad.
Magnification occurs when invididuals view small mistakes/problems/etc as bigger than what they really are. Have you ever heard of the saying "making a mountain out of a mole hill"? On the flip side, people will also minimize problems. People that are minimizing thier behaviors lack insight into how thier behavior is affecting not only thier life but also others around them. An easy example of minimizing would be someone with an addiction making a statement like "I dont even drink that much, I can control it", when in reality theyre drinking everyday and have 3 DUIs.
Catastrophic thinking is like a more severe form of magnification where people view events in black or white...all or nothing...good or bad...success or fail...etc etc. Perfectionists exhibit this type of thinking. For example, a nursing student gets an 93 on a biology test but is distraught because he/she missed 7 points. Then the individual thinks well Im going to fail this class, then I wont be able to become a nurse, I will have wasted my money on college for nothing, Ill never have a good job, etc etc...you get the point. Catastrophic thinking happens pretty frequently with people that have depression or anxiety.
Hope that helps some