Chapter 1
Identifying Critical Thinking
Hindrances
This tutorial will give you practice in recognizing
five common critical thinking hindrances:
egocentrism, sociocentrism, unwarranted
assumptions and stereotypes, relativistic
thinking, and wishful thinking.
In a 1989 international study of 13-year-olds, Koreans
finished first in mathematics and Americans finished
last.
Yet when asked whether they thought they were "good
at mathematics," only 23 percent of Koreans said "yes,"
compared to 68 percent of Americans.
Based on what you have learned in this chapter, which
critical thinking hindrance do the American youngsters in
this study demonstrate?
In a 1989 international study of 13-year-olds, Koreans
finished first in mathematics and Americans finished
last.
Yet when asked whether they thought they were "good
at mathematics," only 23 percent of Koreans said "yes,"
compared to 68 percent of Americans.
Egocentrism.
Egocentrism is self-centered thinking. Chapter 1
discusses two major forms of egocentrism: self-interested
thinking and self-serving bias.
Which form of egocentrism do the American students
exhibit: self-interested thinking or self-serving bias?
In a 1989 international test of 13-year-olds, Koreans
finished first in mathematics and Americans finished
last.
Yet when asked whether they thought they were "good
at mathematics," only 23 percent of Koreans said "yes,"
compared to 68 percent of Americans.
Self-serving bias
Self-serving bias is the tendency to overrate oneself--to
be overly confident of one's knowledge, abilities, or good
fortune.
The American students in this study certainly don't lack
"self-esteem." What they do lack is a proper sense of how
little they know about mathematics.
Muhammad Ali [speaking in Zaire, Africa]: "There's no
country as great as the smallest city in America. I mean
[here in Zaire] you can't watch television. The water won't
even run right. The toilets won't flush. The roads, the cars-there's nothing as great as America."
Based on your reading of this chapter, what type
of critical thinking hindrance does Muhammad Ali display
in this passage?
Muhammad Ali [speaking in Zaire, Africa]: "There's no
country as great as the smallest city in America. I mean
[here in Zaire] you can't watch television. The water won't
even run right. The toilets won't flush. The roads, the cars-there's nothing as great as America."
Sociocentrism
Sociocentrism is group-centered thinking, i.e., thinking
that is excessively influenced by group standards of
conduct or belief.
Chapter 1 discusses two major forms of sociocentrism:
group bias and conformism.
What form of sociocentrism does Ali display in this
passage: group bias or the herd conformism?
Muhammad Ali [speaking in Zaire, Africa]: "There's no
country as great as the smallest city in America. I mean
[here in Zaire] you can't watch television. The water won't
even run right. The toilets won't flush. The roads, the cars-there's nothing as great as America."
Group bias
Group bias is the tendency to think more highly of one's
nation, race, school, family, or other social group than is
warranted by the evidence.
In saying, for example, that "there's no country as great as
the smallest city in America," Ali is clearly overstating the
comparative virtues of his own country, and thus is guilty
of group bias.
Sexually active bisexual: “I’ll never get AIDS. I’m a very
intuitive person. I would sense it if someone had
something as degenerative as the AIDS virus.”
Based on your reading of this chapter, what critical
thinking hindrance does this person exhibit?
Sexually active bisexual: “I’ll never get AIDS. I’m a very
intuitive person. I would sense it if someone had
something as degenerative as the AIDS virus.”
Wishful thinking
Wishful thinking occurs when a person believes that
something is true, not because they have good reasons for
the belief, but because they wish it were true.
Persons who engage in risky sexual activity often kid
themselves in thinking, “It won’t happen to me.”
Notice that this is also a case of self-serving bias. This
person is overly confident of his or her ability to know
“intuitively” when a potential sexual partner has the AIDS
virus.
Ed: My friend Dirk is a college sophomore at a state
university in upstate New York. He is blonde, loves surfing,
and has a very laid-back personality.
Mary: I bet he’s from California.
What critical thinking hindrance does Mary exhibit?
Ed: My friend Dirk is a college sophomore at a state
university in upstate New York. He is blonde, loves surfing,
and has a very laid-back personality.
Mary: I bet he’s from California.
Stereotyping
Having blonde hair, enjoying surfing, and having a laidback personality are qualities people stereotypically
associate with Californians--and this despite the fact that a
majority of Californians are not Caucasians. But of course
many people who are not from California also have these
three qualities. And given that Dirk attends a state
university in upstate New York, it is unlikely, in fact, that he
comes from California.
Liz: I can't believe I got a B- on this marketing paper. My
friend Jill turned in this same paper in a different
marketing class last semester, and she got an A.
Bob: Don't you realize it's wrong to plagiarize someone
else's work?
Liz: That's your opinion. What's wrong for one person isn't
necessarily wrong for another, and I say there's nothing
wrong with plagiarism--as long as you don't get caught.
Based on your reading of this chapter, which critical
thinking hindrance does Liz exhibit?
Relativistic thinking
• Relativistic thinking is thinking that assumes
that truth is just a matter of opinion.
• Chapter 1 discusses two major forms of
relativistic thinking: subjectivism and cultural
relativism.
• Which type of relativism does Liz apparently
accept?
Subjectivism
• Subjectivism is the idea that truth is just a
matter of individual opinion. In other words,
what is truth for an individual is whatever that
individual believes is true.
• Cultural relativism is the idea that truth is a
matter of societal opinion. In other words,
what is true for an individual is whatever his or
her society believes is true.
Notice that both forms of relativism make it pretty much
impossible to engage in any serious critical thinking.
According to subjectivism, there is no point in trying to
develop thoughtful, well-substantiated beliefs, because no
matter what beliefs you hold, those beliefs will be true for
you.
Likewise, if cultural relativism were true, there would be no
point in trying to base your beliefs on evidence and good
reasoning--in fact, it would be wrong to do so, because
that might lead you to question society's prevailing beliefs.
And according to cultural relativism, it is always wrong for
a person to question his or her society's beliefs, because
those beliefs are always TRUE!
[This is the end of the tutorial]
X