tankefälla

11:54 Sep 11, 2009 

Sure thing. I definitely know the feeling ;).

11:47 Sep 11, 2009 

I think it sounds like this is my target ... for some reason these "straight" translations make me nervous sometimes (kind of like a thought trap, huh? ;-) . I'm delivering later, will get back with the points. Thanks for your help!

11:32 Sep 11, 2009 

I was doing some web searching right now and "thought trap" seems to be the more common in terms of pop psychology, while "mental trap" also conveys the same meaning.

In your example, a thought trap might be, for instance, a belief among many that one absolutely must get a college degree to get ahead in life, and then when they find they are having difficulty in college, they fall into the thought trap that they will be miserable forever and not consider that perhaps they are better suited for and would actually be happier in a line of work that does not entail a college education....for instance. It is a failure to "think outside the box."

11:26 Sep 11, 2009 

Thanks, Paul! I was also considering mental trap ... what do you think?