Two Barriers to Critical Thinking
Our ability to think critically is crucial to maintaining our sense of self. Critical thinking goes beyond intelligence or knowledge; it involves actively interpreting information to make informed decisions.
Critical thinking is an invaluable skill in a world filled with fake news, biased opinions, and information overload. Think of it as your superpower.
Just as superheroes have their kryptonite, critical thinkers face their own set of challenges. They fall under the broad umbrella of cognitive bias.
Oh no! Jargon!
Okay, one step at a time: cognitive describes conscious thinking. A cognitive bias is deciding on something or taking action based on limited or flawed information.
With that out of the way, here are a couple:
Confirmation Bias occurs when we seek out information that supports our existing beliefs. We ignore evidence that challenges them. However, not all evidence is accurate and may contain its own confirmation biases.
The Halo Effect refers to how we view something based on a single piece of information. We apply this to other aspects. If our first impression is positive, the following ones will be positive; likewise, if the first view is negative.
Those two are among the most common biases. There are others, many others, but we’re moving slowly here. And remember, this is a blog, not an academic paper. My information, while research-based, is also gleaned from years of teaching students to be critical thinkers.
