Dysfunctional thought patterns are negative or distorted ways of thinking that contribute to emotional distress or maladaptive behaviors. These patterns often involve cognitive distortions such as black-and-white thinking, catastrophizing, or personalization.
Related terms
Cognitive Distortions: Biased ways of thinking that lead to misinterpretations of reality.
Automatic Thoughts: Spontaneous thoughts or beliefs that arise in response to specific situations.
Negative Self-Talk: Internal dialogues characterized by self-criticism, doubt, or pessimism.