Critical Thinking Land Mines

Other articles have provided a general understanding of critical thinking key elements. Next, you will learn some primary threats to successful critical thinking. Let’s call these threats land mines.

Much thinking of the untrained mind is distorted, incomplete, biased, uninformed and prejudiced. This kind of thinking creates a potential mine field that can hold you back from using your knowledge, schooling, experience, reasoning, intuition, common sense and confidence to make informed decisions.

The purpose of this article is to raise your awareness of the critical thinking mine field and ways of avoiding the mines. Then, you can focus your efforts on thinking more critically.

Here are the land mines!

Egocentric Thinking

Egocentric thinking is viewing everything in relation to oneself. Egocentric thinkers are self-centered and consider only their interests. This impedes critical thinking.

It is difficult for many people to identify this characteristic within themselves. The egocentric person is usually unaware of his or her thinking patterns.

There are many successful business people, lawyers, politicians, and others who are egocentric thinkers. They are closed minded to the thoughts and ideas of others. This damages their critical thinking abilities. Open minded thinking is a fundamental critical thinking skill.

The best defense to minimizing egocentric thinking is to be aware of it and to be mindful of the needs of others. In essence, to continually strive towards viewing ideas and concepts from multiple vantage points.


Social Conditioning

Each of us is unique. Age, IQ, race, genes, gender, culture, family, friends, and a wide array of other factors have a dramatic effect on how we view the world and the people we interact with. This conditioning can be a benefit or drawback to your ability to think critically.

Critical thinking is hindered when the world and people in it are viewed from biased social conditioning without learning the needs, desires and dreams of others. It may not be possible to completely understand others, but open minded critical thinking can enable you to listen, learn and empathize. This helps you understand others better.

For example, because someone is a Christian, that doesn’t mean he or she can’t appreciate the beliefs of Judaism, Buddhism, or Confucianism. The same is true for any religious, social or political belief system.

Arguably the biggest problem in the world today is lack of acceptance. In another word: intolerance. Race, religion, culture, and a wide array of other factors can bring us together or tear us apart. Each of us chooses if we will accept others, or not.

Recognizing and accepting the influences of social conditioning is normal. However, strive to understand how and why they are biasing thoughts. That enlightenment will help clarify your thinking about issues and help guide you towards conclusions that are rational, unbiased, logical and fair.


Biased Experience

Although experience is a wonderful teacher, if it is filtered through a biased or distorted view, that is how it is remembered. Self-delusion supports self-delusion.

Create an open mind and question logic by asking again and again: “Am I thinking logically and rationally.” This is called a sanity check.

Another good sanity check is choosing friends and colleagues who will tell you the truth, not just what you want to hear. These friends are priceless as sounding boards for your stream of thought and rational thinking.


Time and Patience

Time is at a premium. Critical thinking takes time and patience.

Laziness, cutting corners, not doing research and homework can lead to poor decision making. To make the best use of time it is important to focus effectively. Can you think of a rash decision that you made and regretted later? Did it cost you time, energy and/or money to fix? If you had invested more time thinking about your decision, would you have made a better one?

There is an overused statement at many work places. It is: “We don’t have time to do it correctly now, we will rework it later!” This approach costs companies millions each year. It costs individuals dearly as well.

Arrogance and Intolerance

The economist Milton Friedman makes a strong case for individual freedom. He has stated: “The people who always get us into trouble are the people who know better than you do what’s good for you.” He goes on to say:

“Arrogance and intolerance are what produce the ills of the world.”

These simple words say a great deal. When a mind is closed, so is the ability to find the best solution. Critical thinking skills are crippled.


Group Think--The Herd Mentality

There is an old but worthwhile statement:

“When everyone thinks alike no one thinks very much.”

David Crockett was best known for his adventures in the wilderness and fighting at the Alamo. He also served as a Congressman where he was known as an honest and conscientious man.

During the time of his tenure in Congress a law known as the Indian Removal Act in 1830 was being debated. This was a proposed law that would relocate the Five Civilized Tribes of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to further west. It was favored by many who would gain access to lands inhabited by these tribes. They influenced many congressmen.

David Crockett was one of the few in Congress who spoke against the Indian Removal Act. It was passed after a bitter debate in Congress by a small margin and then signed into law by Andrew Jackson.

The relocation of the five tribes had many hardships. It became known as: “The Trail of Tears.” Thousands of Indians died during the forced relocation.1

David Crockett was a strong critical thinker who followed his own beliefs and values. He couldn’t be bribed to support any measure he thought was wrong. His celebrated motto was:

“Be sure that you are right, and then go ahead.”


The Drone Mentality

It is easy to fall into a pattern of not paying attention to the world, people and surroundings. This drone mentality can sneak up at any time.

Working through daily chores without thinking is one symptom. Another symptom is to shy away from new challenges or problems. Many people live this pattern for years, sometimes decades. Without a conscious effort it is easy to loose critical thinking skills over time.

There are some serious problems to not paying attention to what goes on. The drone mentality can cost dearly.

The movie Catch Me if You Can by Steven Spielberg is about a young man who was a brilliant master of deception. It is based on the real life exploits of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who successfully passed himself off as a teacher, a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer all before he reached his 21st birthday! He did this in the late 1960’s.

Frank Abagnale, Jr. used disguise and deception to get away with his antics. He passed off bad checks to finance his expensive life by targeting drone like people. He stole the bulk of the money from corporations.

Today, fraud and theft criminals still prey on drone like people however now it is personal. Identity theft and fraud are at epidemic proportions. The scams are getting more creative and damaging.

It is tough enough as a critical thinker to protect personal and private information and not get caught in a scam. A drone like mentality can cost individuals significant time as well as thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars—or more. Identity theft alone has affected several million people in the United States and is growing.

Always protect personal information. If approached about a “deal” where someone asks for money be very skeptical. Ask:

• Does this deal make sense?
• If so, why?
• If not, why not?

“What I did in my youth is hundreds of times easier today. Technology breeds crime.”
~ Frank Abagnale Jr.


Sidestepping the Land Mines

To sidestep the critical thinking land mines first become aware of them. Then, make a conscious effort to avoid them.

Becoming a critical thinker requires continually questioning your thinking and ideas as well as the thinking and ideas of others. This separates you from the crowd. The power and confidence gained by making informed decisions is a worthwhile reward.

1 Indian Removal Act of 1830, and Trail of Tears, www.Wikipedia.org from Feb 2, 2007.