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Universalization Question

Your negative thought — if someone else thought it, would you agree?

5 min Beginner

Goal

Test thought validity by transferring to third party.

Steps

  1. 1
    Write thought.
2 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate
Thought loses power.

Evidence base

School: CBT

Founders: David Burns (1980)

Burns "Feeling Good" 1980.

Keywords

Frequently asked questions

How long does "Universalization Question" take?
This exercise takes about 5 minutes, practiced solo in a Written reflection format.
When will I notice the effect of "Universalization Question"?
Thought loses power. In the short term: Treat self as friend.
Is "Universalization Question" evidence-based?
Yes — it draws on CBT (David Burns (1980)). Burns "Feeling Good" 1980.
Is "Universalization Question" suitable for beginners?
Its difficulty level is: Beginner. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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