Overgeneralization is a cognitive distortion where a person draws a broad conclusion or rule based on a few limited or isolated incidents. It is the process of extending the application of a belief or conclusion beyond the situations to which it is directly applicable. This often leads to overly broad conclusions about the world, people, or events based on limited evidence.
In psychology, overgeneralization is recognized as a common error in thinking, particularly in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It can manifest in various ways:
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In Personal Beliefs: For example, if a person has a couple of negative experiences in social situations, they might conclude, “I’m always awkward in social settings,” even though this is not true in all cases.
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In Stereotyping: Overgeneralization is a basis for many stereotypes, where a judgment about a group of people is made from a limited number of cases and then applied to the entire group.
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In Emotional Reasoning: It often appears in emotional reasoning, where an individual might feel something strongly and therefore believe it to be universally true.
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In Language and Communication: Overgeneralizations are also common in everyday language, often seen in statements that include absolutes such as “always,” “never,” “all,” “none,” “everybody,” or “nobody.”
Overgeneralization can contribute to negative thought patterns and may be a factor in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Recognizing and challenging overgeneralizations can help in developing more accurate and balanced ways of thinking and responding to situations.