dichotomous thinking

the tendency to think in terms of polar opposites—that is, in terms of the best and worst—without accepting the possibilities that lie between these two extremes. The term has been used to characterize the tendency of people with major depressive disorder to view mildly negative events as extremely negative, but the potential role of such thinking in other conditions (e.g., eating disorders, personality disorders) is also under investigation. Also called polarized thinking.

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Psychology term of the day

January 3rd 2025

unipolar disorder

persistent or pervasive depression that does not involve a manic episode, a hypomanic episode, or a mixed episode. As such, it contrasts with bipolar disorder. The term is sometimes used synonymously with major depressive disorder. Also called unipolar depression.