Category: Critical Thinking

We do a lot of thinking, analyzing and checking the pros and cons before taking any decision in our lives. But in few things we just blindly follow others or go with the blind belief system that we have. Here in critical thinking sessions we did few exercises that helped us analyse and dig deep to find and look into all the aspects of that particular situation. It gave me the understanding that before getting into any conclusions, how to check all the aspects 360 degree. I came to know about the different biases, we work with and how it influence us in our decision making. Of course it is not easy at all. But it will  definitely have an impact on the way we think now.

Initially, Critical thinking seemed to be just another familiar jargon. As it is rightly said by Scribe in Soliloquy – We are all critical to the world around. But we seldom think critically.
I assumed i am a critical thinker just because i critically think when it comes to buying a product. Looking for reviews, new trends, negative reviews, thinking of biased reviews, asking some known person about it and what not. But i think i am selective because if my decision to buy a product was incorrect i just have to face monetary loss which is bearable. But Critical thinking is more than that and i have often compromised it when it comes to emotions and relationships. Questioning my Mom about her blind faith in God has always been a  bitter experience for both of us. In such cases at any point of time my priority would always be relations/importance of that person in my life. I just wish that by too much of critical thinking , i do not stop believing in most of the things which i have believed for so many years. I am sure my closed ones would find it difficult to accept me with this new change in me.

On the contrary, “Thinking Fast and Slow” seemed to be more of similar to being reactive and proactive if i had to compare it as an extension to Seven Habits session. It would take a lot of efforts to train our mind to respond appropriately. But as per our discussions during the session, it is always easier said than done. There are a lot of biases and situations in life where we have to rely on intuitions. But at least giving it a thought to analyse the situation critically can be worthy.

Critical thinking sessions/content has helped me in conducting TOK classes with students and seemed to be very effective. I am glad that i have applied something that i have learned. One thing that i wish to change in me is to not to be gullible at times. Hoping for more lovely discussions to happen in coming sessions.

Till then keep questioning and critically thinking !!!

-Mayur

On a lighter note 🙂

Source – https://twitter.com/zain92580972/status/1051371467819106305

As per my understanding about CT was that i need to analyze each and every thought that came to your mind but then there was paradigm shift that ,yes it requires analysis but it doesn’t mean that you put everything under lens and scrutinize it.i also came across lots of bias during session,Confirmation bias was one which i may come across number of times in life.As per this bias we take up information from one source and then unconsciously accept it.This also lead us to take decision whether good or bad,But then we can also take more information before taking decision based on gravity of condition.Bandwagon bias is where people agree on one decision if they are working in same group for long.This may distract group members from correct decision.As a leader this also questions me that whether a decision that i take is correct or just taken for sake of group interest……….

Thanks to Shezin Ma’am and Mariyam Ma’am for being good facilitators …

I had a belief that decisions are to be taken by keeping the emotions at bay. But after attending the first day of the critical thinking workshop I got an insight that a person should think emotionally also while concluding or making decisions.

 

Moving forward with the type of biases I have been operating I could relate to this after my recent family gathering at my place on Raksha Bandhan is “social desirability” bias. On the last day of our family gathering, we all 3 families(brother in law/sister in law/mine) sat together to decide upon our next gathering which was planned for Diwali vacation. As usual most of the family members decided to go to the nearby place spending some amount of money in order to get a break from the routine and have leisure time. In this case, I always had and still have the opinion of visiting different locations/places rather than visiting the same place every year. In order to be accepted by all the members of the family, I agreed to them and quit in arguing or discussing my own views. I do agree that here I was having the fear of being a sole odd one out in the entire family and wanted to be with them at any cost. But as this workshop has ignited the spark of convincing people around and persuade them with some logical reasons  I would definitely try out this time and take a chance of visiting some different place.

This is the 5th/6th attempt to write my reflection on the Critical Thinking sessions. And still I am not clear or sure as to what to write because I am scrutinizing my each and every thought. I feel like that child who got an out of the box toy and is wondering and figuring out what to do? how to do? why to do? when to do?

Today after the half the session, I now know few things, first, whatever I am thinking or whatever thought process goes in in my decision making is “NOT MY FAULT” Thank God!!!! (Some bias is working here, will find out which one). Second, now that I know there is some manufacturing defect in me and that’s the reason I think in a certain manner, I need to do something about it so that that or any other type of defect is not passed on to my off-springs because that’s how it has passed on to me.(Well I know it’s late, because my off–springs are already 13 and 7) but ummeed pa duniya kaayam hae!!!! I still have time (hopefully) to make a difference in their lives. Third, whatever I decide to do to change my way of thinking there will be some bias working. IT’S OK. Because being human I just trying to SURVIVE in my own way, but at least I am aware of what I am doing and why I am doing. Fourth, It’s good to have people with diverse opinion for the best result. That’s one way to grow.

I really like this session because it has given me 2 more roles to play – a convincer – which I am very good at, and – a convincee – which is my struggle area, I don’t give in easily again because I am trying to SURVIVE.

To end it, I am learning about who I am and why I am like this? It’s good way to start re-building myself again.

The world gets more complex every day. There is only one way to cope:through command of our mind by doing enough critical thinking. Thinking more effectively gives us greater control over our life and helps us deal better. Critical thinking is no mystery now as it consists of practical skills that anyone can learn, practice and improve. The first step to improving our thinking skills is to evaluate the information that we receive on a daily basis. Before doing something based on information that someone else told us, we do our research!. Everyday work and life are an endless patterns of decisions. Some of the decisions are small while some are large and life-changing. When our patterns of decision-making are rational, we live a rational life. When our patterns are irrational, we live an irrational life. While rational decisions maximize the quality of our life and our chances of happiness and successful living. Critical thinking improves our decision-making abilities by raising our patterns of decision-making to the level of conscious choice.

This thought keeps coming to me again and again.- Is Critical Thinking always necessary?

Learning critical thinking can be a lifelong process, but unless one knows when and where it should not be applied, it may result into complicating matters as far as social/ family situations are concerned.

Understanding the basis of reasoning and how has the human ability to reason evolved with time for a purpose, does give a rationale for Critical thinking being an essential skill for survival as well as to form well informed decisions and beliefs.

Biases and Critical thinking go hand in hand. The impact of biases on decision making is something that we fail to realize unless we involve people having opinion which is not in alignment with ours. The best decisions can be made if they are made by a group of individuals not necessarily having the same belief system.

Overcoming the biases will definitely help make informed analysis and apply critical thinking. To find out the biases and then thinking critically in any situation will be helpful, because it will give a scope for different perspectives.

When I took up the quiz shared by Mariyam Ma’am, the result was that I have “Negativity Bias” which I do agree to a certain extent. And I could very well introspect and relate to certain decisions where this bias has played a role.

Critical thinking is not necessary to be applied in all situations but definitely essential skill to develop to be able to read our thoughts, train them and make informed choices/decisions.

 

 

 

Since I chose to learn through the CT workshop, I was thinking that what will be the content of this workshop. However, after attending the first session the initial questions were answered related to the workshop.

Analyzing my own thinking style after the workshop, I was able to make a connection that confirmation bias is leading my thoughts. Nowadays according to my new role anyways I am confirming everything before I make any decision. In my professional life, I am dealing with this bias on a day to day basis. In personal life also I felt the same. For example, I used to ask my friend that how this newly released movie is? I also used to check ratings? Moreover, I used to see the trailer of the movie and add value to my own decision.

Hence, I came to a conclusion that “Confirmation Bias” is leading my thoughts and decision.

With regards,

Ravindra Agrawal

So after being one of the procrastinator here are finally the thoughts that have been rolling over for more then a week now…. I seriously have been trying to put up all my thoughts together however I did realise at this hour how difficult it has been to even understand what critical thinking was specially when you realise that you work from one angle of thoughts and that this drives almost all your decisions of life.

Through a series of examples I could resonate with what is called “Impact bias” and that from where I operate my thinking. The most recent and perfect example of this was when me and my husband were into a serious thought process on his change of job. So recently my hubby was offered a very good job from another firm with the best perks that he could ever think of however this one decision nearly brought us apart when I was one of the thinkers with what is called as the “impact bias” which only led to lot of confusions. I realised I had actually overestimated the change of job and thus didn’t seem to be too supportive towards my husband in taking the decision. Every decision he made I counter questioned him about the future or kind of overestimated the cons of the new job making it much likely for him also to keep rethinking on his decision. He did take his decision however I couldn’t be a much support to him in this case with the type of thinking that I had. I really don’t know whether this was the right way of thinking or no but what I could reallly connect was that most of the times I operate from this and hence maybe the decisions made are impacted due to this “impact bias” 🤨.

This also holds true when it comes to Hriya ( my daughter ) and her future. All I do is overestimate what would be the impact on her future. I know of a fact that I have had quite a few discussion with my other fellow members like Falguni and Suparna on how they feel about their teenage kids when my daughter is just 8 years. And I know this surely does impact a lot of my decisions that I take in regards to her.

“Impact bias”- so when you think on this basis your already living the future. Before the bad event occurs, your mind envisages a life focused solely around the bad event. In reality, the bad event is likely to be overshadowed by all sorts of other events happening at the same time.

That’s kind of being negetive …. is it or kind of overthinking?? 🤔🤔🤔A new food for thought.

 

 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim & Namashkar,

The critical thinking classes seemed to be an extension of what we have learnt in 7 habits, love, integrity and other life classes. We were introduced with the way our brain responds to situations. It tries to respond as quickly as possible depending upon the past knowledge and experiences. Daniel Kahneman, the author of the book “Thinking Fast & Slow”, says that there are two systems working in our brain – Fast and Slow. For ex., if you are asked questions like What’s your name? or 2+1=?, etc., the brain would immediately respond as it has past knowledge and / or experience. But, if you are asked what is 31 x 21, your brain will take time to respond. Depending on the situation, we should use these systems to our advantage. In case of emergencies, one cannot afford to use the slow thinking system because there is not enough time to do that. Also, one has to evaluate options available keeping in mind the consequences. That’s referred as critical thinking. There are situations where we should use the slow system like buying something, relocating, relationship, etc. Our brain has a tendency to take impulsive choices and hence as Stephen Covey says, we need to take a pause, before we respond. We also carry in our heads something called cognitive biases which influences our choices / response to situations or events.

During the session of getting to know about different cognitive biases, I identified one of the cognitive biases I had (Sorry forgot the name!) and still have and I am working to overcome it. Whenever I find academically good students indisciplined, I lack the will to give them a consequence. So, that’s because my brain has good impression about those students and hence it makes it difficult for me to take the right decision of giving them a consequence and be unbiased. After I took a quiz shared by Mariyam mam, I also found that I have “Negativity Bias”, though I agree partially and not 100%. Negativity bias is more sensitivity towards negative or unpleasant things even when there is equal amount of positive things available. I agree that at times, I would think more of negative once I have had bad experience with a situation or person. It’s work in progress to overcome these biases or minimise its impact on the choices I make in future.

Looking forward to learn more in upcoming CT sessions

Special Thanks to our facilitators – Ms. Shezin Singaporia & Ms. Mariyam Baxamusa

Khuda Hafiz & Namaste!

– Nazim Pirani