This episode discusses a cognitive distortion in psychology called "splitting", which is often referred to as "black and white thinking" or "all or nothing thinking". We can think of it as the failure in our thinking to bring together the dichotomy of both positive and negative qualities of the self and others into a cohesive, realistic whole. It is a common defense mechanism that can lead to anxiety, depression, and extreme negative emotions. Black and white thinking can also harm our relati...