Clinical Psychology and Personality

Clinical Psychology and Personality

Rethinking Cognitive Distortions in Light of Logical FallaciesIntroduction

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mohammadjavad Pashaei
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
10.22070/cpap.2026.22258.1989
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive distortions are among the fundamental concepts in cognitive psychology and cognitive-behavioral therapy, playing a key role in the formation of maladaptive emotions and judgments. Despite the functional overlap between some cognitive distortions and logical fallacies, no systematic study has yet been conducted to integrate these two domains. The present study aimed to develop a classification of cognitive distortions by drawing upon logical fallacies
Method: This research was conducted using a conceptual analysis and comparative study approach. First, common cognitive distortions were extracted from authoritative sources in cognitive psychology, and their characteristics were identified. Then, the most important logical fallacies were identified, screened, and reinterpreted based on the criterion of "capability of being transformed into stable and repetitive patterns of information processing."
Results: In this study, seventeen common cognitive distortions were identified. Furthermore, among the logical fallacies examined, ten fallacies that met the conditions for being transformed into stable cognitive patterns were enumerated.
Discussion and conclusion: The findings indicate that alongside the known cognitive distortions, a considerable set of logical fallacies have the potential to be reinterpreted as patterns of cognitive distortion, provided that these fallacies become repetitive and internalized in the individual's process of information processing and interpretation. This approach, while establishing a link between cognitive psychology and logic, provides a more comprehensive framework for conceptualizing cognitive errors and can pave the way for the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions within the cognitive-behavioral approach
Keywords
Cognitive Errors
Cognitive Distortions
Logical Fallacies
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Reasoning
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Clinical Psychology and Personality
Volume 24, Issue 2 - Serial Number 47
September 2026
Pages 279-292