For example, I've seen managers catch someone stealing. And from then on that person is a "thief." Or they'll get caught loafing on the job. And from that point on they're "lazy." Or else they'll relapse and they'll become hopeless, someone we can't help. When really, they were simply doing the things addicts do until they get a foothold in recovery.
Usually when a label is put on someone it's hard for the one who affixed the label to change their mind. After all, admitting I'm wrong is hard on the ego.
I believe we engage in black and white thinking because it's easy. It's a way to categorize things so they're understandable to us. After all there are so many shades of difference between good and bad, right and wrong, terrible and wonderful, that it's hard work to figure it all out while we're in the middle of a busy day dealing with 650 addicts and alcoholics. The easy way to deal with the situation is to say it's either this or it's that and move on. But that's not fair to us or the client.
For example, when we encounter a client who's not as on fire as we are about recovery we may immediately say he's about to relapse. But maybe all he's really doing is trying to do is absorb the new concepts he’s being presented. After all, for much of his life he might have dealt with people who were untrustworthy or who misled him. Just because he doesn't totally accept everything we say as gospel, doesn't mean he's on the brink of relapse. I've seen managers – using black and white thinking – who'll say this man is on his way to drink or drug.
Follow the two links below for an explanation of black and white thinking. And why it could be dangerous to us.
Cognitive Distortion?/ or Avoiding Distorted Thinking
Usually when a label is put on someone it's hard for the one who affixed the label to change their mind. After all, admitting I'm wrong is hard on the ego.
I believe we engage in black and white thinking because it's easy. It's a way to categorize things so they're understandable to us. After all there are so many shades of difference between good and bad, right and wrong, terrible and wonderful, that it's hard work to figure it all out while we're in the middle of a busy day dealing with 650 addicts and alcoholics. The easy way to deal with the situation is to say it's either this or it's that and move on. But that's not fair to us or the client.
For example, when we encounter a client who's not as on fire as we are about recovery we may immediately say he's about to relapse. But maybe all he's really doing is trying to do is absorb the new concepts he’s being presented. After all, for much of his life he might have dealt with people who were untrustworthy or who misled him. Just because he doesn't totally accept everything we say as gospel, doesn't mean he's on the brink of relapse. I've seen managers – using black and white thinking – who'll say this man is on his way to drink or drug.
Follow the two links below for an explanation of black and white thinking. And why it could be dangerous to us.
Cognitive Distortion?/ or Avoiding Distorted Thinking
