What cognitive distortion involves viewing situations in black-and-white terms?

The cognitive distortion that involves viewing situations in black-and-white terms is indeed all-or-nothing thinking. This type of distortion occurs when individuals perceive things in absolute terms, such as seeing an event as either a complete success or an utter failure, without recognizing any middle ground or nuances. For example, someone might think, "If I don't get an A on this test, I am a total failure," which disregards the possibility of a range of outcomes or the value of effort regardless of the result.

This thinking pattern can lead to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement, as it sets excessively high standards and creates a rigid mindset. It is crucial to understand this distortion because challenging it can help individuals adopt a more balanced perspective, allowing for the recognition of successes and achievements in the broader context of their experiences rather than defining their self-worth based solely on extreme outcomes.