Interpretation

Interpretation is giving meaning to facts, signals or events based on context, beliefs and experience.

Definition

Interpretation is not the same as fact. The same stimulus can be interpreted as a threat, an opportunity, a slight or a neutral situation. Interpretive awareness helps you recognize cognitive distortions, test alternative explanations, and respond more appropriately.

Key ideas

Missing key ideas.

Practice and life

In a difficult situation, write down: a fact, my first interpretation, three other possible interpretations and data for each of them.

Common misunderstanding

It is a mistake to treat the first interpretation as reality. A common mistake is to only look for data that confirms the initial meaning.

Questions for self-reflection

No questions for self-reflection.

Sources

No sources.