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Related Concept Videos

Counterfactual Thinking01:19

Counterfactual Thinking

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Counterfactual thinking is a cognitive process wherein individuals mentally reconstruct alternative versions of past events, often beginning with “what if” or “if only.” This reflective mechanism plays a significant role in shaping emotional experiences and guiding future behavior. Though typically triggered by unfavorable or unexpected outcomes, counterfactual thinking can also emerge in mundane, everyday decisions and experiences, revealing its deep entrenchment in...
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Critical Thinking01:19

Critical Thinking

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Critical thinking involves reflective and productive thinking and the evaluation of evidence. Critical thinkers seek to understand the deeper meaning of ideas, question assumptions, and make independent decisions about what to believe or do. Scientists, for instance, are often critical thinkers. Critical thinking also requires humility about what we know and don't know and the motivation to look beyond the obvious. It is essential for effective problem-solving.
Colleges and universities are...
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Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

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Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
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Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition01:24

Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition

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A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy01:24

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

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Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...
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Introspection01:29

Introspection

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Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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How rethinking difficulties can shape important life outcomes.

Veronika Job1, Christopher Mlynski1, Christina A Bauer1

  • 1Department of Occupational, Economic and Social Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1010, Austria.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|June 18, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Beliefs about difficulty shape how we respond to challenges. Understanding these beliefs can clarify how they influence motivation, coping, and resilience, promoting growth instead of harm.

Keywords:
identity reframinglay beliefslay theories of willpowerstressstress mindsets

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Well-being research
  • Resilience studies

Background:

  • Difficulties are common, impacting well-being but also fostering growth.
  • Difficulty beliefs (whether dealing with challenges is harmful or beneficial) are key.
  • Existing research on these beliefs is fragmented across different life domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize disconnected research on difficulty beliefs.
  • To highlight shared principles across various domains of difficulty.
  • To propose a unifying mechanistic model of difficulty beliefs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis.
  • Conceptual analysis of existing research streams.
  • Development of an integrative theoretical model.

Main Results:

  • Difficulty beliefs significantly influence motivation and coping strategies.
  • An integrated perspective clarifies the impact of beliefs across different contexts.
  • Beliefs can predict whether challenges lead to harm or growth.

Conclusions:

  • A unified understanding of difficulty beliefs is crucial.
  • This perspective can enhance interventions for promoting resilience.
  • Difficulty beliefs are a critical factor in navigating life's adversities.