Understanding Negative Thinking Patterns

This worksheet helps 8th-grade students identify and challenge common negative thinking patterns, promoting healthier mental habits.

Grade 8 Social studies Social SkillsNegative Thinking Patterns

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TextMultiple ChoiceTrue / FalseFill in the BlanksShort AnswerWord Bank

Standards

D2.Psy.2.6-8. Analyze the role of perception, interpretation, and bias in understanding human behavior and decision-making.

Topics

social skillsmental healththinking patternscognitive behavioral therapygrade 8

8 sections · Free to use · Printable

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Understanding Negative Thinking Patterns

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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. This worksheet will help you identify and challenge common negative thinking patterns.

Our thoughts have a powerful impact on our feelings and actions. Sometimes, we fall into 'negative thinking patterns' which are unhelpful ways of thinking that can make us feel worse. Identifying these patterns is the first step to changing them.

1. Which of the following is an example of 'all-or-nothing' thinking?

I made a mistake, but I'll learn from it.

If I don't get an A on this test, I'm a complete failure.

I'm feeling a little down today.

It's important to try my best.

2. 'Catastrophizing' is when you:

Believe everything will turn out perfectly.

Focus only on the positive aspects of a situation.

Assume the worst possible outcome will happen.

Evaluate situations realistically.

1. 'Mind reading' is a negative thinking pattern where you assume you know what others are thinking without evidence.

True

False

2. 'Filtering' means focusing on all the positive details and ignoring any negative ones.

True

False

1. When you focus only on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positive, you are engaging in .

2. Calling yourself names or putting yourself down is an example of .

3. 'Should statements' are often a sign of thinking.

1. Describe a time you or someone you know experienced 'personalization' as a negative thinking pattern. How might you challenge this thought?

2. Explain the difference between a negative thinking pattern and a normal negative emotion. Give an example of each.

Use the words below to complete the sentences.

Overgeneralization

Disqualifying the Positive

Emotional Reasoning

Magnification

1. Believing that because one bad thing happened, it will always happen, is called .

2. When you ignore compliments or achievements, you are .

3. Thinking something is true just because you feel it strongly is an example of .

4. Blowing things out of proportion, making them seem worse than they are, is known as .