What are the fallacies of fairness?
Life’s challenges can be overwhelming; everyone deserves a space to feel heard and supported. At Roamers Therapy, we provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and evidence-based environments to help you heal, grow, and navigate your mental well-being journey. As your psychotherapist, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Fallacies of fairness are types of cognitive distortions (or unhelpful ways of thinking). There are several forms of fallacies, but two common ones are the Fallacy of Fairness and Heaven’s Reward Fallacy. The Fallacy of Fairness refers to the belief that all things in life should be based on fairness and equality. An example of this cognitive distortion can be feeling as though you are being treated unfairly because your coworker received a promotion over you. Heaven’s Reward Fallacy refers to the belief that you will be rewarded if you work hard enough or do good deeds. An example is the belief of “what goes around comes around,” or that good things will come your way for being good yourself.
How are the fallacies of fairness harmful?
If you hold either of these cognitive distortions, you may find that things don’t always work in your favor. For example, you may work just as hard (or harder) as your coworker and still not receive the promotion. You might do good deeds such as paying it forward but feel like that good luck doesn’t come back around. The reality is that not everything in life is fair or equal. We may expect or want things to work out in a certain way, but the fact of the matter is that sometimes, they just don’t. Holding these beliefs can cause you to feel constantly disappointed, angry, and resentful.
Find the Best Therapist in Chicago to Combat the Fallacies of Fairness
Having these thoughts can be tough, especially when we see other people receiving benefits and advancements we may also feel entitled to. The best way to avoid feeling angry and disappointed is to challenge the way we let these distortions affect us. Challenging these thoughts through cognitive restructuring (i.e., learning to identify and dispute irrational thoughts and beliefs) is a great way to begin combating these distortions. You can do this by questioning your assumptions and gathering evidence for them. Your therapist can also help you develop skills using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
At Roamers Therapy, our psychotherapists are here to support you through anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues, race-ethnicity issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, ADHD, Autism, or any challenges you encounter. Our psychotherapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Gottman Therapy.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on a specific issue or need help navigating difficult emotions, we’re ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule a session with our mental health professionals to begin your healing journey. To get started with therapy, visit our booking page.
First, decide if you’ll be paying out-of-pocket or using insurance. If you’re a self-pay client, you can book directly through the “Book Now” page or fill out the “Self-Pay/Out-of-network Inquiry Form.” If you’re using insurance, fill out the “Insurance Verification Form” to receive details about your costs and availability. Please let us know your preferred therapist. If your preferred therapist isn’t available, you can join the waitlist by emailing us. Once your appointment is confirmed, you’ll receive intake documents to complete before your first session.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.