Overview
In clinical settings, black-and-white thinking refers to a type of cognitive distortion where someone thinks in extremes or polar opposites. For example, they might define success on an exam by achieving 100% and anything less to be a failure, or they might go between wanting to break up with a significant other to putting them on a pedestal.
In the context of substance use disorders, black-and-white thinking can manifest as an Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE) which can lead someone who deviates from their standards of abstinence to spiral much harder. “I messed up, so fuck it, I give up” is a very common thought preceding one of these relapses, whereas sometimes people can recognize that they don’t have to let a night of drinking become a whole bender.