‘All Catholics are rapists’: Catholic Charities building vandalized in New York City

This is an example of overgeneralizing, which is when you use overly broad language in our evaluations of events or people. You can really hear overgeneralizing in the language people use when they talk about provocations. They use words like “always,” “never,” “everybody,” and “nobody.” This type of thinking and language matters because once you say something always happens to you, you start responding to the pattern of events instead of just the one event that has just happened.


For example, imagine you are on your way to an important meeting and there is a small group of people walking slowly in the hallway in front of you. If might be a frustrating experience for sure, but if your interpretation is “Why does everyone walk so slowly?” you will likely get even angrier because now you are not just frustrated by this small group of people in front of you, you’re frustrated by everyone.


It may sound like I am splitting hairs here, but I am not. This tendency to overgeneralizing makes us angrier than when we use more realistic and accurate language (Martin & Dahlen, 2007; 2011; Martin & Vieaux, 2013). People who overgeneralize tend to get angrier than others, they express that anger in less healthy ways, and they suffer greater consequences as a result of their anger.

Click to expand...

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

Click to expand...

8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

Click to expand...

19 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Click to expand...

Michie said:

Agreed. Did you see that guy in the video?

Click to expand...

Michie said:

The guy looked pretty milquetoast to me. If someone came up behind him as he was breaking out his little marker that would of been something to see.

Click to expand...

Another interloper whose mom is paying his rent from out west so he can live in the big city mostly unemployed

Click to expand...