Which of the following thought patterns involves believing that situations are either all good or all bad?

The thought pattern in question is commonly referred to as "black and white thinking," which accurately describes the tendency to view situations in extremes. This cognitive distortion occurs when an individual perceives events, people, or outcomes as entirely positive or entirely negative, with no middle ground or nuance. Such a mindset can lead to unrealistic expectations and an inability to recognize the complexity of most situations, which typically have both beneficial and adverse aspects.

Black and white thinking can greatly affect emotional well-being, as it often leads to feelings of frustration, disappointment, or hopelessness when outcomes do not align with an all-or-nothing perspective. Recognizing and challenging this thought pattern can help foster a more balanced view of experiences and improve emotional resilience.

In contrast, the other options represent different cognitive distortions. Overgeneralization involves drawing broad conclusions based on a single incident, labeling refers to assigning negative labels to oneself or others, and fortune telling is predicting negative outcomes without evidence. Each of these thought patterns corresponds to specific cognitive distortions but does not encapsulate the all-or-nothing mindset inherent in black and white thinking.