The statement "he never washes the dishes" is an example of which cognitive distortion?

The statement "he never washes the dishes" reflects overgeneralization, a cognitive distortion where a single negative event or observation is viewed as an overarching rule or truth across all occurrences. In this context, the use of the word "never" suggests that the person is making a broad and absolute conclusion based on possibly limited experiences—implying that this individual never engages in this task at all.

Overgeneralization can lead to skewed perceptions and irrational beliefs, as it disregards evidence that contradicts the sweeping statement. For instance, the person might have washed the dishes in the past, but that fact is overlooked when making the generalization. This cognitive distortion can create frustration and conflict in relationships, as it may lead to feelings of resentment based on an inaccurate assessment of a person's behavior.

In contrast, the other options refer to different ways of thinking that may distort perceptions but do not directly apply to the use of "never" in this instance, which emphasizes absolute conclusions.