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What is emotional reasoning?
Emotional reasoning refers to the process of making decisions, judgments, or conclusions based primarily on one's emotions rather than on logical reasoning or evidence. It involves allowing emotions to heavily influence one's thoughts and actions, often without considering whether those emotions are a reliable indicator of reality.
In emotional reasoning, individuals may rely on their feelings as the sole basis for determining what is true or valid, even if the evidence suggests otherwise. This can lead to biased or irrational thinking, as emotions are subjective and can be influenced by various factors such as past experiences, personal beliefs, and cultural norms.
For example, someone who is afraid of flying might avoid air travel because they feel anxious, even though statistical evidence shows that flying is a safe mode of transportation. In this case, the individual's fear is driving their decision rather than an objective assessment of the risks involved.
Another example is the job interview process. More often than not, individuals feel anxiety in these moments and the anxiety is typically what leads to thoughts like, “I’m not good enough”, “I don’t know what I’m talking about”, “They won’t like me” or “I’m not going to get the job”. It is likely that if you have made it to the interview process, none of these are based on actual facts. They are based on the emotion of anxiety and thus, it is considered emotional reasoning.
Emotional reasoning is a common cognitive distortion and can contribute to issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship conflicts. Learning to recognize and challenge emotional reasoning in times when it is ineffective can help individuals make more rational and balanced decisions. Keep in mind, everyone at one point or another has participated in this type of thinking and although at times it is useful, more often than not, it can be problematic.
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