Mind reading is when you assume you know what someone else is thinking without asking or checking. Noticing and questioning these assumptions can help you feel less anxious and see situations more clearly.
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Maric, M., Heyne, D. A., van Widenfelt, B. M., & Westenberg, P. M. (2010). Distorted cognitive processing in youth: The structure of negative cognitive errors and their associations with anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research. — Shows that mind reading errors (assuming others’ thoughts) are strongly linked with higher anxiety in children and adolescents. Büge, B. (2025). Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions and Mind Reading Ability in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Multi-Group Mediation Analysis. Life Skills Journal of Psychology. — Finds that mind reading contributes to interpersonal cognitive distortions and is associated with social anxiety, highlighting its role in biased thinking. Özdemir, İ. & Kuru, E. (2023). Investigation of Cognitive Distortions in Panic Disorder, GAD, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(19), 6351. — Reports mind reading as one of the cognitive distortions present across several anxiety disorders, reinforcing its clinical relevance.
