What's Up Docs? How to escape all-or-nothing thinking
Nov 11, 2025
Kimberley Wilson, a Chartered psychologist and author of Complex, joins Chris and Xand to tackle all-or-nothing thinking. She defines this binary mindset and explains why our brains lean towards simplistic views. They discuss how early childhood shapes these extremes and the clinical consequences of rigid thinking. Kimberley offers practical strategies like curiosity and giving the benefit of the doubt to shift toward nuance. The conversation emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty for better mental health.
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Difficult Conversation Helped Clarity
- Chris describes a recorded difficult conversation that unexpectedly helped him organise his thoughts.
- Having the conversation didn't fix everything but made his worries easier to manage.
Why Black-And-White Thinking Appeals
- Black-and-white thinking is seductive because it simplifies complex decisions and conserves mental energy.
- Our brains use it as an early heuristic to organise confusing information and reduce cognitive load.
Origins In Early Development
- Babies form binary categories (good/bad) to make sense of overwhelming experience during development.
- This early habit can persist, making nuance harder unless one develops integration skills.
