read lecture notes and answer worksheet

Cognitive Distortions Worksheet

Name:

1) Read Chapter 3 in the course textbook.

2) Complete the table below using the information from the textbook.

3) Choose a total of 5 cognitive distortions.

4) GCU style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

5) An example is provided below in red.

Selected Cognitive Distortion 

Definition of Cognitive Distortion

Please respond to the prompts below (a,b,c,d) for each cognitive distortion you choose. Each response should be 150-200 words.

a) Provide an example of a cognitive distortion from your personal life.

b) How did the cognitive distortion affect your critical thinking?

c) How could you manage the emotions associated with this cognitive distortion in the future?

d) How will you avoid using this cognitive distortion in the persuasive essay you are writing for this class?

Always Being Right

It is impossible to be wrong.

a) My favorite baseball team is the best of all time, and no one could tell me otherwise. I did not do any research to support this claim, but I just know my favorite baseball team is the best.
b) I am so caught up in being right that I am unable to comprehend the actual statistics about other baseball teams. If someone tries to argue with me and provide information that could prove me wrong, I will dismiss it because I want to be right.
c) I should consider factual baseball statistics, and try to understand that my favorite team may not be the best simply because it is my favorite and I want to be right.
d) I will make sure to consider multiple points of view and factual information in addition to what I think I know and/or what I want to be the outcome. I will support my claims with relevant scholarly research from the GCU library showing that I have considered the possibility of other arguments.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

PHI-105 Lecture 3

Emotion − I Felt Before I Thought − Rousseau

Topic Purpose

In this topic, you will explore human emotion and its influence on thinking. You will also have the opportunity to investigate and discuss techniques that can be used to control your emotions as you enhance your critical thinking skills. You will discover that critical thinking and emotions are inseparable−critical thinking helps you manage your emotions, and managing your emotions helps you to be a better critical thinker. The topic focuses on concepts such as the humanity of emotions, emotional intelligence, and dealing with emotional barriers.

Topic Concept #1: Emotion: On Being Human

Is it really possible for humans to “leave emotion out of it”? You can try to avoid, deny, or ignore your emotions, but those techniques never seem to work successfully. They are your first expressions at birth, and most likely your last ones before death. Some, like surprise, come and go quickly. Others, like love, can last “forever.” There are a number of theories about why people have emotions, but there is no question that they do. At times you may refer to emotions as your disposition, mood, personality, or feelings.

Fear, anger, joy, or elation−to some degree, emotions influence every aspect of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. They make you human.

Topic Concept #2: Emotion and Critical Thinking

Make a list of some of the most important decisions you have made in life so far. Maybe it was choosing who to date or marriage, buying a car, having kids, joining the military, choosing your faith, or going to college. Now, think about it−were those decisions driven primarily (not exclusively but primarily) by logical reasoning or emotion? You may claim it was reasoning, but think about it. The question then is not “How do you keep emotion out of your thinking and decision making?” but rather “How do you manage your emotions in your thinking and decision making?” Remember, it is not an issue of presence or absence, but to what degree.

Topic Concept #3: Emotional Intelligence

A number of years ago, researchers and writers defined the concept of “emotional intelligence” as the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Although researchers were willing to talk about and accept the need and value of intellectual competencies, often they were not as open regarding the emotional ones. Yet, growing levels of research indicated that emotional intelligence serves you further and often better in most endeavors, particularly when interacting with others. Examine the resources in the Topic 3 Supplemental Readings document to learn more about emotional intelligence. Once you have reviewed the information, take a few minutes to assess your emotional IQ.

Topic Concept #4: Emotional Barriers: Hurdles or Walls?

The text readings for this topic discuss the biases, defenses, and other barriers in people’s thinking. As the authors mention, many−maybe even most−of these barriers are related to emotions. From self-concept, to enculturation, to stressors, as with everything else in thinking, you are presented with multiple opportunities to overwhelm yourself−to run at many walls. However, you also have the choice to turn those barriers into hurdles instead of walls. The more scientists study the brain and the thinking processes, the more they find that although emotions have a tremendous influence on people’s thinking, that process also works in reverse. Quite possibly, it will move you forward.

Topic Concept #5: Emotion and Your Persuasive Essay

During this topic of the course, you will be writing the thesis for your persuasive essay. As you prepare, consider the emotional influences you have invested in the topic you selected and your presentation of it. Understand it. Accept it. Manage it well.

Copyright 2014. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.