I think you might mean “scrupulous thinking disorder.”
1. Obsessive - compulsive thinking pattern
- Meaning: A way of thinking characterized by intrusive, repetitive, and often anxiety - provoking thoughts. For example, “People with an obsessive - compulsive thinking pattern may constantly worry about whether they locked the door or turned off the stove.”
- Usage difference: “Obsessive - compulsive thinking pattern” is more widely recognized in the field of psychology. It emphasizes the repetitive and involuntary nature of the thoughts. In contrast to “scrupulous thinking disorder,” it doesn't necessarily carry the connotation of extreme moral or ethical over - attentiveness. The focus is more on the repetitive and often senseless worry that compels the individual to perform certain behaviors to relieve the anxiety.
2. Over - scrupulous thought process
- Meaning: A thought process where a person is overly concerned with details, especially in terms of right and wrong, to an extent that it may disrupt normal decision - making or daily life. For example, “An over - scrupulous thought process might lead someone to agonize over every little ethical choice in a work environment.”
- Usage difference: “Over - scrupulous thought process” is quite close to the hypothesized “scrupulous thinking disorder.” It highlights the excessive attention to details, particularly in a moral or ethical context. However, it might not be as formally recognized as a “disorder” and could simply describe a thinking style that is more intense than average in its scrupulousness.
3. Hyper - conscientious thinking style
- Meaning: A way of thinking where an individual is extremely conscientious, perhaps to a point of being overly self - critical or rigid in their thinking. For example, “A hyper - conscientious thinking style can make a person second - guess their every action based on an exacting standard of what is correct.”
- Usage difference: “Hyper - conscientious thinking style” emphasizes the high level of self - awareness and the desire to do things “right” according to a personal standard. In comparison to a possible “scrupulous thinking disorder,” it may not have the same negative implications of a psychological or cognitive dysfunction. It could be seen as a personality - related thinking style that might have both positive and negative aspects, such as a high work ethic but also a tendency to be overly hard on oneself.