12 Common Thinking Errors - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.

1. an example of mind reading
   "I bet she hates me."
2. an example of emotional reasoning.
   “I feel like a bad friend, therefore I must be a bad friend.”
3. Downplaying the importance of events.
   Minimization
4. an example of personalization
   “My mom is always upset. She would be fine if I did more to help her.”
5. an example of overgeneralization
   "All people who____ are____."
6. Making broad interpretations from a single or few events.
   Overgeneralization
7. The belief that things ought to be a certain way. Pressure we put on ourselves.
   Should statements
8. an example of fortune telling
   “ I just know I’m not going to make the team.”
9. an example minimization
   "what I did was no big deal."
10. an example of personalization
    "I bet he said that just to make me mad."
11. example of emotional reasoning & overgeneralization
    "I was awkward yesterday. I'm always so awkward!"
12. an example of magical thinking
    "I'm a good person, so bad things shouldn't happen to me."
13. an example of catastrophizing
    "My dad isn't answering the phone. I bet he's been in an accident."
14. Thinking in extremes. It’s either all good or it’s all bad. Using words like “always” & “never”
    All or nothing thinking
15. The belief that our choices will influence unrelated situations.
    Magical thinking
16. Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without adequate evidence.
    Mind reading
17. The belief that one is responsible for events outside their own control.
    Personalization
18. Exaggerating the importance of events.
    Magnification
19. Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.
    Catastrophizing
20. an example of a should statement
    “I need to look cool in front of my classmates.”
21. Recognizing only the negative aspects of the situation while ignoring the positive.
    Disqualifying the positive
22. The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
    Fortune-telling
23. The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are.
    Emotional reasoning
24. an example of magnification
    “ This is the worst mistake ever.”
25. Free!