What it sounds like
- I feel overwhelmed, so I must be failing.
- "I feel guilty, so I must have done something wrong." Guilt has entered evidence without showing ID.
Cognitive distortion
Emotional Reasoning
Assuming something is true because it feels true.
Classic tell: I feel overwhelmed, so I must be failing.
Back to the guideFurther explanation
What is happening underneath?
Assuming something is true because it feels true.
A feeling is treated as a fact. Feelings are data, but they are not automatically accurate conclusions.
How to tell
- The main proof is "it feels true."
Why people use it
- Strong emotion creates a sense of certainty even when evidence is mixed.
How to respond
- Ask: "What does the feeling tell me to check, not automatically believe?"
Manipulation watch
How this gets used on people.
- Advertising uses emotional reasoning by making people feel insecure, then offering the feeling itself as proof they need the product.