Irrational Thinking Styles – Fairness Fallacy

Irrational Thinking Styles: The Fairness Fallacy

Thinking based on the belief that because we are fair and just, then the world should also be that way. So if you do the right thing and yet people don’t behave as you want them to, or things don’t turn out as you want them to, then your thinking becomes preoccupied with “how unfair” it all is. The truth is that the world is not always a fair and just place, and dwelling on the fact that it is not will not solve anything, nor will it make you feel better.

Example
“I was the most qualified, but the boss’s nephew will probably get the job. I might as well give up now. It’s so unfair”

Instead try
“I was the most qualified for the job, but it’s looks like the boss’s nephew will get the position. I guess it in some situations it is who you know, not what you know. I’ll have to accept the reality that life is unfair at times and do what I can about it or keep looking for work elsewhere.”

Black and White Thinking

Catastrophizing

Emotional Thinking

The Fairness Fallacy

Mind Reading

Overgeneralizing

Personalizing

Shoulds

Tunnel Vision