Irrational thought patterns in the cognitive profile of persons prone to procrastination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2026-47-cheKeywords:
irrational beliefs, emotional self regulation, catastrophizing, frustration intolerance, locus of controlAbstract
Purpose. The article is devoted to a theoretical analysis of the psychological mechanisms of dilatory behavior within the cognitive‑behavioral approach. The purpose of the study is to synthesize the findings of domestic and international research on the role of irrational beliefs in the formation of stable patterns of task delay and to substantiate procrastination as a cognitively determined phenomenon of emotional self‑regulation.
Methods. The study employs methods of theoretical analysis, comparison, generalization, systematization, and integration of scientific sources addressing the cognitive determinants of procrastination. Classical and contemporary works within rational‑emotive behavioral theory, theories of cognitive emotion regulation, and self‑regulation of activity were analyzed, as well as the results of empirical, correlational, and meta‑analytic studies conducted across different samples and sociocultural contexts.
Results. Theoretical synthesis made it possible to establish that dilatory behavior is formed under the influence of a complex interaction of several irrational beliefs that increase the subjective threat of tasks and reduce an individual’s readiness to initiate action. It is shown that catastrophizing plays a leading role in generating anticipatory anxiety; frustration intolerance contributes to the tendency to avoid effort and psychological discomfort; an external locus of control reduces the sense of responsibility for task outcomes; and low self‑efficacy combined with negative self‑perceptions intensifies fear of mistakes and evaluative situations. The joint effect of these beliefs forms a stable cognitive context of avoidance and reinforces procrastination in behavior.
Conclusions. From a cognitive‑behavioral perspective, dilatory behavior can be interpreted as a short‑term effective but long‑term maladaptive strategy of emotional self‑regulation. The obtained theoretical generalizations provide a methodological basis for further empirical research and for the development of psychological interventions aimed at modifying irrational beliefs and enhancing adaptive self‑regulation of activity.
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