Emotional reasoning is a cognitive process by which a person concludes that his/her emotional reaction proves something is true, regardless of the observed evidence. For example, even though a spouse has shown only devotion, a person using emotional reasoning might conclude, "I know my spouse is being unfaithful because I feel jealous."
Emotional reasoning amplifies the effects of other cognitive distortions. For example, a test-taker may feel insecure about their understanding of the material even though they are perfectly capable of answering the questions. If he (or she) acts on his insecurity about failing the written test he might assume that he misunderstands the material and therefore might guess answers randomly, causing his own failure in a self-fulfilling prophecy. — Wikipedia
In trying to pinpoint a singular cause for our distress — Posty McPostface
What, exactly, is our distress, and why would you be trying to pinpoint a singular cause for it? — Terrapin Station
If thinking can make it so then just think that you're happy. — Terrapin Station
Ah. I don't have depression and only rarely have anxiety. So I don't have much experience with how they work. — Terrapin Station
Yes, but how do you delineate between the two? — Posty McPostface
Well, on my view that's not always easy because there is always an emotional element somewhere within thought/belief. Emotion is not always part of the immediate correlation. It is often 'buried' somewhere within one of the things being correlated to one another.
I just offered a simple account which 'separated' the two... — creativesoul
No — creativesoul
I'm wondering if anyone else falls into this trap of reasoning emotionally? In trying to pinpoint a singular cause for our distress, I attempt to highlight this cognitive distortion as one which stands out from all the others in contributing to distress, depression, and a whole host of other negative affective moods. — Posty McPostface
But the proposition such as 1+1=2 is an emotionally devoid proposition. No? — Posty McPostface
(I'm not a psychologist and I don't know if this is any use to you Posty, but my 2 cents.) — ssu
As before, the emotional content is not always a part of 'expressed' correlation except that there is - at the very least - fear and/or contentment 'buried' somewhere in all the thought that led up to asserting and/or expressing that proposition. The expression is built upon and/or grounded by some previous thought. Somewhere along the 'line', fear and/or contentment is part of the correlation itself. It is one of the things being connected, as compared/contrasted with being just a smaller part of one of the things being connected. — creativesoul
As before, the emotional content is not always a part of 'expressed' correlation except that there is - at the very least - fear and/or contentment 'buried' somewhere in all the thought that led up to asserting and/or expressing that proposition. The expression is built upon and/or grounded by some previous thought. Somewhere along the 'line', fear and/or contentment is part of the correlation itself. It is one of the things being connected, as compared/contrasted with being just a smaller part of one of the things being connected.
— creativesoul
But, there really isn't anything emotional about expressing the proposition that 1+1 is 2. Is there? — Posty McPostface
Are you uncertain, certain, or neither? — creativesoul
Your confidence does not exist independently of your thought/belief. — creativesoul
What sort of question is that Posty? Ask a better question. — creativesoul
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