Theory: dichotomous thinking
Definition: A concept from mental health practice in which an individual tends to view the world as "black and white" and is only capable of seeing the extremes in a situation. They tend to see the world as all good or all bad.
Salters-Pedneault, K. (2014) Dichotomous Thinking. Retrieved from http://bpd.about.com/od/glossary/g/dichot.htm
Application: In the community development setting, this theory could be applied if a community was getting discouraged by lack of "big victories." If a community only saw success as getting every single one of their goals met, then they might easily get discouraged if the change happened more incrementally or slowly. An organizer could help the community to see partial victories in a more positive light.
Alternative application: in treating someone with an eating disorder, a clinician could help their client learn how to look at themselves more positively if the individual thought they were failures for not being "perfect enough" or "skinny enough." Using cognitive behavioral therapy in this context could help the client be more content with where they're at and not think so much in dichotomous way.
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