TITLE:
Development of Deterministic Thinking Scale Based on Iranian Culture
AUTHORS:
Jalal Younesi, Akram Alsadat Mirafzal
KEYWORDS:
Deterministic Thinking; Cognitive Distortions; Balance of Fear and Hope; Islamic Culture; Cognition
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.4 No.11,
November
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: One of major cognitive distortions is deterministic thinking. This type
of thinking ignores any possibility or probability in conclusion about the
events. Any consequence of event may be thought such as: 2 × 2 = 4. Equality is
a dominant factor among all conclusions of this kind of distortion. In Islamic
perspective, the distortion is seen as a destructive factor for ruining balance
of fear and hope, which is to be an important sign of people’s faith. The distortion
emerges in cognitive rigidity in the mind which may be mother of all
distortions. Cognitive rigidity is a main reason for depression and other
psychosocial maladjustment. The scale with 36 items was developed in first
phase of this study. Its validity and reliability were measured among men and
women. It had reasonable and significant correlation with Beck Depression Inventory
(p ≤ .05) and also showed reasonable
internal reliability (α = .8218).
Through factor analysis, five factors appeared in this type of thinking to be
related to General deterministic thinking, Deterministic thinking in
interaction with people, Absolute view in thinking, Deterministic thinking in
prediction of future and Deterministic thinking in negative events.