From Bias to Critical Thinking: Mapping Your Road

In 2016, Oxford Dictionaries chose “post-truth” as the word of the year. Eight years later, public opinion is still being vastly shaped by emotional manipulation rather than objective facts. In response, we can turn to critical thinking to help us navigate the informational storms. What affects our critical thinking, and is there a way to improve it? In this article, Anna Trofymlyuk, delivery manager at Intellias, maps the path for those interested in the topic.   

Critical thinking is a concept many are familiar with to some extent. This article delves into what critical thinking is, its importance, what prevents us from thinking critically, as well as some practical advice on how to foster the skill.  

What is critical thinking?  

By critical thinking we mean questioning, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and making judgements about what one reads, hears, says, or writes. It is the opposite of intuitive thinking. Whereas intuitive thinking is fast, non-reflexive, and open to manipulation, critical thinking is attentive, slow, and based on awareness.   

Of course, we need both intuitive and critical thinking. For example, intuitive thinking comes in handy when we need to calculate 2+3 or while driving a familiar route. But when it comes to making bigger decisions, developing business plans, or distinguishing truth from falsehood, we definitely need critical thinking.  

In today’s world, critical thinking is a valuable skill. So why can it be so challenging to learn it or turn it on when needed? As a matter of fact, there are some obstacles, or rather biases, which hinder our ability to think critically. Psychologists outline more than 180 biases, but we will cover the top three.   

Halo effect  

The halo effect occurs when our overall impression of a person, company, or product influences our judgments about their character or quality in unrelated areas. For example, job candidates often evaluate companies based on their interactions with recruiters. If your meeting with a recruiter was nice, your overall impression of the company will likely be positive. The halo effect is not always a bad thing, as it saves our brain from constantly exploring and processing new information. On the other hand, it can make us prejudiced and unable to see things the way they are.   

Priming   

In psychology, priming is the way exposure to one stimulus affects our reaction to the next stimulus. For instance, if something negative happens to us in the morning, it is more likely that all events that take place later in the day will be less emotionally colored or more negatively perceived. After watching a scary movie, we are more likely to interpret a creaking noise as a sign of danger. And one lousy work sync in the morning can set the tone for all upcoming meetings.  

Illusion of recognition   

Illusion of recognition occurs when we believe we recognize something or someone because we have been exposed to it frequently, even if we don’t actually have direct experience with it. If you’ve repeatedly heard or seen an ad for a particular brand, you will be more likely to choose that brand’s products later when you will need to buy something — even if you do not remember seeing or hearing the ad.   

The cases mentioned above are quite common, and you have probably experienced some of these biases. Luckily, there are some things you can do to deal with biases and enhance your critical thinking.   

Polishing critical thinking skills   

If you want to sharpen your critical thinking, fact-checking is a must. Verify the accuracy of information before believing it as true. Look for the original text, read comments (maybe someone already uncovered fake news), use Google Lens for photo search, check texts for plagiarism, and do not react emotionally. If you are affected by the news, check it in several sources.  

Second, learn how to block cognitive mistakes. Remember that information availability distorts reality (e.g., the feeling of safety is affected more by hearing about an airplane crash than by statistics). Do not let one opinion dominate: listen to different arguments. And finally, don’t focus on improbable situations: our brains tend to concentrate on the unusual and strange.  

Further reading on the topic  

Critical thinking is a wide area that is impossible to cover in one article. If you want to explore it further, start with reading some of the most well-known books on the matter:  

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman: This book describes the two systems of thought — fast, intuitive thinking and slow, deliberative thinking — and how they shape our judgments and decisions.  

• The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: Taleb discusses how unexpected events shape our world and the importance of being prepared for the improbable.  

• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: This book explains how understanding and managing emotions can enhance critical thinking and decision-making.  

• Mind Power by John Kehoe: Kehoe provides practical techniques for harnessing the power of your mind to improve your thinking and achieve your goals.  

• Social Psychology by David Myers: This comprehensive book delves into the psychological principles behind social behavior, including biases and stereotypes.