Question

DeMario's wife, Marta, asks him if he wants some help cutting the grass and weeding the garden. He declines the offer and feels "blue" for the rest of the day because he keeps thinking, "Marta thinks I am getting older and losing my physical abilities." What type of cognitive distortion is involved here?

A) minimization
B) selective abstraction
C) overgeneralization
D) arbitrary inference

Answer 1

Answer:

D) arbitrary inference                                              

Explanation:

Arbitrary inference: In psychology, the term arbitrary inference refers to a form of cognitive bias whereby an individual quickly draws a specific conclusion about something in the absence of any requisite evidence. It was developed by Aaron T. Beck during 1979 and is considered to be a tenet of cognitive therapy.

In the question above, the cognitive distortion involved is an arbitrary inference.