- Labeling is a Cognitive Distortion, an automatic irrational thought.
- It refers to judging ourselves and others based on one’s behavior, rather than based on the objective trait of that person.
- The behavior becomes the person in this cognitive distortion.
Examples of Labeling
“I won again. You’re such a loser.”
The person lost a game. That single event does not define them.
“You always carry a book with you. What a nerd.”
The person reads or learns a lot. That is what they do, not who they are. Therefore, “nerd” is a label and a display of cognitive distortion.
How To Manage Labeling
Learn to discriminate between the attributes of a person and their behaviors/actions. Then, consider the attributes of a person, not their singular actions, when defining them.