A Losers Guide to Photography: Cognitive Distortion in Photography

Cognitive Distortion in Photography

Backstory

I think many people experience a sitation where they are criticised and take the critisim too personaly. As a photographer, I am used to people critiquing my photos. Hell, my college professor told me, while I was presenting my portfolio in front of the class, my photos were, and I quote, "shit". I should be used to criticism; a professional receiver of criticism. However, that wasn't the case when a coworker of mine, in passing, said I need to change something about myself. It was out of left field. An unanticipated critique. In my professional life I try to be perfect and I want to do my best. So hearing I "failed" at something, while I innocently felt like I was helping, destroyed me mentally. It wasn't a critique about my creation, it was a critique about my being. 

I focused on my coworkers criticism. It was eating me alive. The criticism had me staying up late at night. I was contemplating social, and possible, career sabotage. An example thought I had was, "Well fine. If my help isn't wanted, then I will never help someone. Even in the most dire straits, I will never help someone again, because obviously my help isn't wanted". Boom, that would be social and career sabotage had I followed through on this thought.

I thought to myself, "why am I so focused on this [critique]? I need to let this go. I have to let this go. I need to let this go". For some reason my brain wouldn't let it go! In fact, I hyperfocused more on the critique and these invasive thoughts. I just needed to let it go. 

I decided to research this phenomena. I wanted to know why can't I let this criticism go? A quick Google search later the term Cognitive Distortion was in front of my eyes. Amazing. 

Defining Cognitive Distortion

Here is the definition from Wikipedia, "...an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern involved in the onset or perpetuation of psychopathological states, such as depression and anxiety".

Cognitive Distortion can be broken down into several categories:

  1. Jumping to Conclusions
  2. Emotional Reasoning
  3. n't Statements
  4. Blaming Others
  5. Minimizing/Magnifying and Mislabeling
  6. Assuming the Worst

As photographers, if we aren't already used to criticism, we should be used to criticism. If we don't receive criticism, we should be seeking it. Criticism is important for any photographer to grow and establish their identity. Equally important to receiving criticism is being able to give positive actionable criticism. This is important because this feedback is generally sought after, rather than given to. If we are given criticism out of the blue, no matter what it is, then it seems to effect the ego more than if we seek the criticism. People providing their two-cents in art, when not asked for, seems to be a cultural issue and seems to run rampant in any art industry. The artist should be able to build a wall to protect their ego and separate the critique of the art and the ego. We have to separate our ego from our art to prevent Cognitive Distortion. 

The separation of the ego from the art can be difficult because artists tend to invest their 'self' into their art. Often, the artists art is a reflection of the self. So a critique of the art is a critique of the self. Even with a resilient mind-wall, the most experienced artist can be a victim of Cognitive Distortion. 

As photographers and artists, we need to be more cognizant of our words and how we deliver criticism/feedback. Even wanted criticism can be delivered wrong. Preventing unwarranted Cognitive Distortion can save people from self-sabotage, save people time and save people energy. It's a destructive biological force that serves little to no purpose and can be avoided if we are aware of it and how to avoid it. 

Overcoming Cognitive Distortion

A photography critique group I belong to in Philadelphia created a rule that helps solve this problem - no critique can involve the word "you/your", like, "you should have included a jumping fish". Instead, one could say, "I feel like this image would be stronger with a jumping fish coming from camera left to camera right". As humans, we are defensive when the ego feels attacked; a common catalyst is language, i.e. "you/r". 

I feel like knowing about why something is happening is half the battle to overcoming the problem. 

There are several websites that list tactics to overcome Cognitive Distortion. I will link one of them below:


Update

I've put more thought into Cognitive Distortion and the more I reflect on it the more I notice the similarities between it and Imposter Syndrome. I'm not sure if there is any relationship, but it would make sense that Imposter Syndrome can be caused by Cognitive Distortions. 

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