Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Unhelpful thinking patterns, often called cognitive distortions or negative thinking traps can significantly impact family dynamics and relationships. When parents or family members fall into these patterns, they may unintentionally create confusion and emotional distress for themselves, their children, and others in the family
How Thinking Traps Affect Families
Common Cognitive Distortions in Families
Some frequent thinking traps include:
Why Understanding Matters
Recognising how cognitive distortions develop in parents, children, and other family members is a crucial step toward healthier relationships. By learning to identify and challenge these thinking traps, families can:
Supporting Healthier Relationships
Awareness and proactive steps can help families move beyond thinking traps, fostering stronger, more supportive relationships.
Half-truths often arise from cognitive distortions that can exaggerate, minimise, or selectively filter information. When these distortions are at play, stories may be told in a way that only partially reflects reality, omitting important details or emphasing certain aspects to fit a biased perspective. This can create confusion, reinforce negative beliefs, and harm trust and relationships within families. Recognising how cognitive distortions contribute to half-truths is an important step in promoting honest, healthy communication.
For a deeper understanding of how half-truths can influence family dynamics and relationships, we recommend reading Amanda Sillars’ insightful article, “Half-Truths and Manipulation.” In this piece, Amanda explores how sharing selective or distorted information can impact children and families, particularly in situations involving alienation and manipulation. ARTICLE
Cognitive Distortions in Parent-Child Alignment & Rejection
Download PDFParental Alienating Behaviours
are Child Abuse & Family Violence.
This serious form of abuse and family violence can no longer be ignored. Parental alienating behaviours must be acknowledged in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. We need legislation that not only acknowledges its existence but firmly and clearly legislates against it.