What is a distorted thinking pattern described among survivors of suicide that involves viewing the deceased as all good or all bad and may include rationalizing that the death was an accident?

• A. Black-and-White thinking
• B. Projection
• C. Externalization
• D. Ruminative thinking

Answer: (A)

This question tests a cognitive distortion where a person interprets the deceased in extremes, seeing them as all good or all bad. This black-and-white thinking simplifies a very complex person and situation, helping the survivor manage intense guilt and ambiguity after a suicide. It can also lead to rationalizing the death as an accident, as a way to preserve a simpler, more controllable narrative. This pattern is distinct from other distortions: projection involves assigning one’s own thoughts or feelings to someone else; externalization attributes problems to external factors; and ruminative thinking is repetitive dwelling on distress without necessarily polarizing judgments about the person.