all-or-nothing thinking

Definitions

A cognitive distortion in which situations are viewed in absolute, black-and-white terms, with no recognition of middle ground.

Examples

All-or-nothing thinking made her see the project as either a total success or a complete failure.

He practiced noticing shades of gray to challenge his all-or-nothing thinking.

Synonyms

black-and-white thinking dichotomous thinking polarized thinking splitting