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technique
Disputing automatic thoughts
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▲ 1 active in the last 90 days
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Last discussed Oct 24, 2026
A cognitive technique from learned optimism: treating catastrophic inner thoughts as a rival and countering them with realistic evidence.
Recently discussed in
Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman
Martin Seligman · Oct 24, 2026
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MS
Martin Seligman
recommends
Used for: Countering catastrophic thoughts such as pre-interview anxiety
Praised: Evidence-based; 6 months later people are more optimistic, less depressed, an...
vs: Contrasted with treating catastrophic thoughts as if they were true
"I basically with realistic arguments treated the voice that said to me, 'Seligman, you're over the hill,' as if it was a rival for my job or my wife... when you learn to become a good disputer of automatic thoughts, pessimism changes to optimism. ..."
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