Our beliefs affect our perception
We notice what we believe to be true. Racists are drawn to newspaper reports that confirm their racist beliefs. A child who believes she is stupid notices her mistakes. A father who believes his son is a bad person notices the bad things his son does. In each instance, we overlook any evidence that contradicts the belief of “truth.” The racist never really sees admirable behavior of someone of the other race. The child who believes she is stupid never notices her successes. The father who believes his son is “bad” never sees his son’s decency and kindness.
                                                         
Our appraisal of an adversity affects our mental, physical, and social response to distress. Under conditions of prolonged stress we are likely to suffer from "fuzzy" thinking. When this happens, thoughts of failure, rejection, and victimization may begin to crowd out a more realistic appraisal of our situation. We may have a difficult time putting the problem into perspective and making decisions.