Jumping to Conclusions
The idiom “jumping to conclusions” essentially refers to a tendency
to assume something as fact when there is not a clear reason to do so.
Jumping to conclusions can easily exacerbate a conflict because we
are operating on assumptions we do not know to be factual.
Conclusions may be about our perceptions of people’s character,
motives, attitude, and so on, based on their actions that irritate us.
This sort of response—in which we attribute things to people without
sure knowledge—may be due to factors such as our history with them
or with similar situations or relationship dynamics. It may come from
biases or stereotypes we have developed. It may be due to the habitual
inclination to find fault or think the worst of people. We may
tend to be negative and pessimistic in general, or be untrusting of
others. Or, we may let our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and fears determine
our interpretations.
Such variables as these and others tend to fuel the inclination to
make meaning of something that is not necessarily applicable or possibly
even relevant. Whatever the reasons, when we do not have facts
to support the conclusions we reach, conflict often arises.
The following questions are designed to help bring to the surface
whatever lies beneath your conclusions regarding another person in
a specific situation. The questions will be especially useful if you are
aware of a tendency to jump to conclusions, or if you are currently
doing so about an interaction.
QUESTIONS
• In a situation in which you are jumping to a conclusion,
what is your conclusion about the other person?
• What was the starting point before you reached that conclusion
(your answer to the previous question)? What propelled
the jump to the conclusion you reached?
• What makes your conclusion a realistic possibility? How
may it not be absolutely realistic?
• If the conclusion you determined is correct, what does that
mean for you? What does it mean for your relationship
with the other person?
• If your conclusion is not correct, what does that mean for
you? What does it mean for your relationship with the
other person?
• What other possible conclusions might there be other than
what you have considered so far?
• If this situation was told to you by someone else going
through this experience, what thoughts, or what other
conclusions, may occur to you to suggest that you have not
contemplated as yet?
• What do you think occupies the space between your starting
point and the conclusion you reached? How does what
is in the space change your conclusion, if it does?
• What is your preferred conclusion? In what ways, if any,
may that conclusion be possible despite the determination
you initially made?
• What are some ways you can think of to refrain from
jumping to conclusions in the future if you think there is
benefit in doing so?
• What else occurs to you as you consider these questions?
• What insights do you have?
