ABSTRACT
Cognitive theory is based on an information-processing model 'which posits that during psychological distress a person's thinking becomes more rigid and distorted, judgements become overgeneralized and absolute, and the person's basic beliefs about the self and the world become fixed'. In a calmer frame of mind, the person is likely to check their impressions and appraisals of events in order to obtain clear and accurate information. Everyone engages in distorted information professing such as jumping to conclusions or mind-reading, but these distortions 'only become a problem when the bias is chronic or too extreme'. Distorted thinking underlies psychological problems. These distortions usually stem from deeper negative beliefs that are activated during emotional distress.
