The dangers of black-and-white thinking

Let's talk about the dangers of black-and-white thinking

Black-and-white thinking is a cognitive distortion, or a flawed way of thinking. It involves thinking in extremes — for example, that an issue or person is all good or all bad — while ignoring that reality typically lies somewhere in the middle.

Black-and-white thinking is problematic because it often doesn't provide an honest view of a person, organization, or issue. It leads people to resist different perspectives, new information, and the possibility of change.

Black-and-white thinking can fuel polarization and extremism, and it can lead to "us" vs "them" narratives and dehumanization.

Words that can signal black-and-white thinking:

always, never, perfect, failure, easy, impossible, good, evil, all, none

Most people and issues are not all good or bad. If you find yourself seeing a person, group of people, or issue in a black-and-white way, stop and look for the nuances of the situation.

Questions to ask as you look for gray areas:

• Why might this person or group have this perspective?

• What problems does this person or organization have?

• What good are they doing?

• Who do i know who thinks differently about this person or issue? Could I ask for their point of view?

• What are areas where I could find common ground?

As you identify and challenge your own patterns of black-and-white thinking, you will be better able to understand other perspectives and build bridges.

Be a conscious consumer. Identify and challenge your own black-and-white thinking.

National Library of Medicine: "Black and white thinking: A cognitive distortion" bit.ly/3vPOn93

PsychCentral: "How does black-and-white thinking affect your mood and behavior?" bit.ly/3HoCh70

Forbes: "Reducing polarization through critical thinking and common ground" bit.ly/426IDn7

Psychology Today: "Black and white thinking in hate" bit.ly/3tWbTPJ

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