Cognitive distortions are systematic errors in thinking. These are identified within cognitive psychology and especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). To explore and examine cognitive distortions begin by cultivating awareness of automatic thoughts, then labelling, challenging, and reframing them through evidence-based questioning. The most widely recognised distortions include:

• catastrophising (imagining worst-case outcomes as inevitable)

• overgeneralisation (drawing broad conclusions from a single event)

• all-or-nothing thinking (viewing situations in black-and-white categories)

• mental filtering (focusing exclusively on negative details)

• disqualifying the positive (rejecting positive experiences as invalid)

• mind reading (assuming others’ negative thoughts without evidence)

• fortune telling (predicting negative outcomes as certain)

• emotional reasoning (treating feelings as facts)

• “should” statements (rigid moral demands on self or others)

• labelling (assigning fixed, global negative identities)

• personalisation (excessively attributing responsibility to oneself)

• magnification/minimisation (exaggerating negatives or downplaying positives)

Methodologically, individuals can examine these by keeping thought records, identifying cognitive patterns, evaluating evidence for and against beliefs, generating balanced alternatives, and testing predictions behaviourally. These approaches were pioneered by Aaron T. Beck (1960s–1970s) and further developed by David D. Burns (1980s), with Albert Ellis (1950s Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy) contributing foundational ideas about irrational beliefs.

From a Christian perspective, these distortions can be understood as manifestations of the fallen human tendency toward misperception and false belief (Jeremiah 17:9). This tendency may be countered by the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2), taking thoughts captive to obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and aligning cognition with truth, justice, and goodness (Philippians 4:8). Christian theology also emphasises grace over condemnation (Romans 8:1) and humility about one’s limited perspective (Proverbs 3:5–6). By such means, Christian faith integrates cognitive restructuring with spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scriptural meditation, and communal discernment.