Thinking trap
Discounting the positive: what it is, with everyday examples
- Discounting the positive
- Good things happen, but they “don't count”.
Unlike a mental filter, the good part is noticed, then explained away: it was luck, they were being polite, anyone could have done it. Because nothing positive is allowed to count, a harsh view of yourself never has to change.
Everyday examples
- At work
“My manager praised the project, but she has to say that.”
- With friends
“They only invited me because they felt sorry for me.”
- About yourself
“I passed, but the test was easy.”
Questions to check the thought
From the Socratic questions in ThinkGO. Pick one or two; you don’t need all of them.
- What points to this thought being true? What points the other way?
- Is this a fact, or a thought that feels like one?
- If a friend had this thought, what would you tell them?
A fairer alternative
The trap
“They're just being nice.”
A fairer thought
“They chose to say it. It's possible they meant it.”
Exercises that help
Related thinking traps
Sources
- Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press.
- Burns, D. D. (1980). Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. William Morrow.
Background reading. The definitions, examples and questions on this page are our own wording.