Mind Reading

This cognitive distortion is the assumption that you know what other people are thinking — and that what they're thinking is negative.

Example: Your colleague walks past your desk without saying hello. You immediately conclude: "She's annoyed with me. I must have done something wrong." In reality, she might have been lost in thought, rushing to a meeting, or simply didn't see you.

Mind reading treats your interpretation as fact, without any actual evidence. You never check whether your assumption is correct — because it doesn't feel like an assumption. It feels like you just know.

In the absence of clear information, your mind fills the gap — not with a neutral explanation, but with one drawn from your own fears, insecurities, and core beliefs.