Cycle 9 - Flashcard Set 2
What is mental filtering and how does it affect our perception of reality?
Mental filtering is a cognitive distortion where we only see one aspect of a situation, usually the negative side of it, and disregard or filter out all of the positive. It creates a distorted reality and perception of the world.
What are some of the negative effects of mental filtering?
Mental filtering can make us anxious or depressed by obsessing over the negative and disregarding the positive. It can make us focus on a single negative detail and hyperfocus on it instead of seeing the bigger picture, and cause us to disregard, minimize, or brush aside anything that doesn’t fit our negative narrative.
Can mental filtering be functional in some situations?
Yes, mental filtering can be functional in dangerous situations, but it can be disordered when the world feels dangerous when it’s actually safe.
How can mental filtering affect our relationships?
Mental filtering can make us fall out of love with our spouse when we only notice the bad things they do.
What are some of the consequences of mental filtering in politics?
Mental filtering creates divides by making us see only the best in our political candidate and only the worst in the other candidate.
How can we combat mental filtering in our daily lives?
We can combat mental filtering by slowing down and trying to see both sides of situations, being intentional, and focusing on gratitude and positive accomplishments. We can also combat mental filtering by choosing media sources that don’t use extremes or emotional reasoning, and training ourselves to intentionally look to understand both sides of a story and see other people as multifaceted human beings.
What are the benefits of changing our perception of reality?
Changing our perception of reality can change how we experience the world, and we can choose which thoughts to listen to and which ones to disregard.
How can mental filtering make us narcissistic?
Mental filtering can make us narcissistic by only seeing the good in ourselves.
Why is mental filtering considered a cognitive distortion?
Mental filtering is considered a cognitive distortion because it creates a distorted reality and perception of the world.
What is hyperfocusing and how is it related to mental filtering?
Hyperfocusing is when we focus on a single negative detail and obsess over it instead of seeing the bigger picture. It is related to mental filtering because mental filtering can make us hyperfocus on negative aspects of a situation.
How can mental filtering affect our mental health?
Mental filtering can make us anxious or depressed by obsessing over the negative and disregarding the positive.
What can we do to combat mental filtering in our relationships?
To combat mental filtering in our relationships, we can intentionally focus on positive aspects of our partner, seek to understand their perspective, and communicate openly and honestly with them.
