🪤 Cognitive traps 1–5
A breakdown of five cognitive traps: how they work, how to spot them, what to do — and why the brain is wired this way at all.
Catastrophizing, mind reading, black-and-white thinking, discounting the positive, emotional reasoning.
CatastrophizingMind ReadingBlack-and-White ThinkingDiscounting the PositiveEmotional Reasoning
1. Catastrophizing
What it isWorst-case scenario feels like the only possible outcome
ExampleShe didn't reply > she hates me > I'll get fired > I'll end up homeless
What to doAsk: what's the realistic probability? What's most likely to happen?
Why your brain does thisYour brain is wired to spot danger. Missing a real threat is more costly than a false alarm, so it defaults to worst-case. Great instinct for dodging predators. Terrible instinct for reading texts.
2. Mind Reading
What it isYou 'know' what others think (usually something bad)
ExampleHe looked at me that way - he definitely thinks I'm stupid
What to doYou're not a telepath. Write down: what did he DO? What did you ASSUME?
Why your brain does thisYour brain can't stand not knowing. When someone's thoughts are unclear, it fills the gap - and because the threat system runs the show, it fills it with the worst option. Just in case.
3. Black-and-White Thinking
What it isOnly two options: perfect or terrible. No middle ground
ExampleIf I don't do this 100%, I'm a total failure
What to doFind a third option. 'Done at 70% - is that good enough?'
Why your brain does thisSorting things into shades takes effort. Splitting them into good/bad is fast and cheap. Your brain takes the shortcut. Handy for survival, less handy for real life.
4. Discounting the Positive
What it isSuccesses don't count, but failures are real
ExamplePromotion? Just luck. But that task I failed - that's the real me
What to doWin file. Write down every success. Reread it.
Why your brain does thisBad memories stick harder than good ones. It's called negativity bias - your brain files threats in bold and highlights, while good stuff gets buried in the footnotes.
5. Emotional Reasoning
What it isI feel it = it must be true
ExampleI feel worthless - therefore I am worthless
What to doEmotion is not evidence. 'I FEEL worthless' != 'I AM worthless'.
Why your brain does thisYour brain treats emotions as data - just like what you see or hear. It doesn't stop to check whether the feeling matches reality. It just reacts.
Open the interactive navigatorAll traps — overview page🪤 Should statements, labeling, personalization, overgeneralization, mental filter🪤 Fortune telling, minimization, tunnel vision, magical thinking, just world fallacy🪤 Comparison, effort minimization, reverse telepathy, false dilemma, motive projectionWhy this site is freeAbout the author