Maladaptive Thought Patterns

Definition

Maladaptive thought patterns refer to cognitive processes or ways of thinking that are unhelpful or counterproductive in dealing with life challenges. These patterns may lead to distress, hinder problem-solving abilities, and contribute to psychological difficulties.

Related terms

Cognitive Distortions: Biased ways of thinking that distort reality and contribute to negative thoughts or emotions.

Rumination: The tendency to repetitively dwell on negative thoughts without taking any productive action.

Catastrophizing: A cognitive distortion where one magnifies the importance of negative events and predicts the worst possible outcomes.