While talking with his best friend Matt, Carlos, who is clearly down and out, says, "Dude, I just have no luck with girls at all. I asked Tyra out last night and she turned me down flat. Nobody will EVER want to go out with me. Why am I such a loser?" Because Matt has recently taken an abnormal psychology class, he uses a cognitive perspective to answer Carlos. Which of the following might Matt say?
A) "You know, buddy, it sounds like you're really stuck in a battle between your id and superego!"
B) "Hey, friend, I think that you've learned to see yourself negatively, so now you need to learn to see yourself positively!"
C) "You know, dude, I think your neurotransmitters are all out of whack. Why don't you go to a doctor?"
D) "Hey, pal, you are really overgeneralizing. Just because Tyra said no doesn't mean that all girls will!"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Matt's response suggests that Carlos is engaging in overgeneralization, which is a thought distortion common in cognitive theory. Carlos is assuming that because one girl turned him down, all girls will. Matt is trying to point out that this is not necessarily true and is encouraging Carlos to think more logically and realistically about the situation. Choices A and C are not relevant to the situation, and choice B suggests an overly simplistic solution to a complex issue.

While Talking with His Best Friend Matt, Carlos, Who Is