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Why do we sometimes think in black and white? Explore the mystery of split thinking!
In psychology, split thinking, or black-and-white thinking, is a common cognitive disorder that refers to people's inability to integrate the positive and negative qualities of things when thinking, which leads them to judge others or themselves in a biased way. Extreme thinking that is divided into two poles: "good" or "bad".
This black-and-white thinking is common in childhood development, but should diminish as children enter adulthood.
The roots of split thinking can often be traced back to early attachment relationships, when infants, faced with a parent’s behavior, may not understand that the same person can show love and care but also rejection or indifference. This understanding of extreme features makes them unable to see the subtleties of things.
Psychologists believe that splitting is a defense mechanism that helps individuals resist emotional vulnerability and insecurity.
Whether it is borderline personality disorder, despair, or other psychological disturbances such as depression, features of dissociative thinking can be found in these conditions. Generally speaking, splitting often manifests itself in strong emotional fluctuations, coupled with extreme judgments of others: "If he is not completely good, then he must be evil."
Studies have shown that patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often interpret social acceptance as hidden deception, which leads to loss of trust and uneasiness in relationships.
In addition, split thinking also affects self-esteem. When individuals categorize their self-image as "completely good" or "completely bad," long-term negative evaluations can cause persistent psychological stress and lead to deeper psychological problems.
Symptoms and consequences of split thinking
Pathological split thinking often affects the stability of interpersonal relationships. For example, a person may view another person as a perfect partner at one moment because of their behavior, and then immediately view them as a bitch after a minor conflict. Such violent emotional fluctuations not only destroy an individual's perception of others, but also destroy the foundation of their relationships.
In therapy, the gradual introduction of realism is the key to resolving split thinking, and professionals often need to constantly emphasize the diversity and complexity of things.
Modern psychotherapy, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mind-based therapy (MBT), focuses on helping patients identify their own emotions and gradually establish healthy self-awareness and interpersonal interaction patterns.
The impact of split thinking on interpersonal relationships
People with borderline personality disorder often face challenges with friends and close relationships because of their split thinking. They may become overly dependent on others emotionally, then quickly withdraw due to fear of rejection. In fact, it makes them feel isolated and helpless in the process of making friends.
In a relationship, this split thinking forces one party to constantly seek recognition and understanding, fearing that an inadvertent behavior may be seen as betrayal.
Comprehensive treatment strategies point out that it is very important to establish a support system, but at the same time, we must be careful not to use all emotional energy to cater to the needs of the split thinker. Such behavior may exacerbate conflicts between each other and cause more emotional harm.
Facing the Challenge of Split Thinking
Different treatment methods, such as structured cognitive therapy and relationship-oriented therapy, are aimed at helping people with split thinking understand their psychological problems and better deal with their inner conflicts and emotions. These treatments focus not only on thought patterns but also emphasize improving interpersonal relationships.
Therefore, in the pursuit of mental health, understanding the complexity of human nature and the feelings of others is more important than simply right and wrong.
Although psychotherapy provides many people with the opportunity to rebuild themselves and improve interpersonal relationships, learning to accept others' misunderstanding and one's own imperfections in life may be the most critical issue. Are you ready to free yourself from divisive thinking?
