Generally unhappy people exhibit many distorted thinking styles, but which one is most common?

Question

​​​​​​Destructive labeling
Magnification
Minimization
Imperative thinking

Answer 1

While all of the cognitive distortions you've mentioned can contribute to unhappiness, magnification is often considered one of the most common thinking styles associated with unhappiness. This distortion involves exaggerating the negative aspects of a situation and minimizing the positive ones, leading to increased feelings of anxiety and depression. It can cause individuals to view challenges as insurmountable and to focus excessively on perceived failures or problems.