{"id":25071,"date":"2023-05-14T22:09:42","date_gmt":"2023-05-14T22:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/?p=25071"},"modified":"2023-08-28T22:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T22:48:33","slug":"mental-filtering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/mental-filtering\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Filtering: Definition and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"mental<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mental filtering is a type of negative thinking pattern where a person focuses only on the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive. It is also known as cognitive filtering<\/strong>, negativity bias<\/a>,<\/strong> or selective abstraction. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, let\u2019s say a student receives a positive report card with good grades in most subjects, but one subject has a lower grade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The student focuses only on the lower grade and ignores the good grades, feeling disappointed and overwhelmed rather than proud and happy for their accomplishments. They’ve fallen victim to mental filtering, distorting the reality into a more negative version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mental filtering, individuals filter out certain parts of a situation, magnify the negative, and dismiss the positive, leading to negative emotions and stuck patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who exhibit negative thinking tend to perceive situations with a pessimistic perspective, seeing the glass as half empty instead of half full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\"chris\"Editor’s Note: <\/strong>This article is a study guide for psychology students. If you are experiencing mental filtering that is negatively affecting your life, please talk to a trained and registered therapist.
<\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n

Definition of Mental Filtering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mental filtering is a cognitive distortion<\/a> or negative thinking pattern whereby an individual selectively focuses on and magnifies the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive or more realistically balanced aspects. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Wang and colleagues (2023),<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201c\u2026mental filtering is defined as users ignoring the positive parts of the event and focusing on the negative aspects of the event\u201d (p. 8).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In his research, Kelly (2019) states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI personally struggle with my \u201cmental filter,\u201d a cognitive distortion in which I focus on a single negative detail, such that a realistic appraisal of events is darkened\u201d (p. 1292).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

From a cognitive psychology perspective<\/a>, mental filtering is a type of cognitive processing involving selectively attending to and processing certain information over others (Fortinash & Holoday-Worret, 2014).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process plays out as \u201cfiltering out\u201d certain aspects of an experience or situation while distorting the perception of the remaining elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental filters partly develop through cognitive patterns, past and present experiences, and emotional responses to situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can lead to negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, such as anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and helplessness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic mental filtering can result in a well-worn neural pathway that can further reinforce the negative thinking pattern and thus contribute to more significant mental health problems, requiring significant therapy and personal work to carve new paths in the mind (Rnic et al., 2016).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Examples of Mental Filtering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n