Teaching Our Brain How to Help Us
Slight adjustments, over time, can drive us towards better outcomes
Critical thinking, as important and valuable as it is, is not as easily, narrowly definable as one may conclude. There is additionally a misalignment or gap between the desired intent for our brain and what it habitually prefers to do. Small improvements however can greatly improve our outcomes and the benefits we derive from them.
“The problem we face in defining critical thinking is that it is polysemous: it has many meanings,” says Steve Pearlman, PhD, the founder of The Critical Thinking Institute and an author, educator, speaker and presenter of an Editor’s Pick TED Talk "Critical Thinking: It's Not What You Think... Or Is It?”
“It has so many different meanings that it almost loses definition entirely, the consequence of which is that when people use the term, they’re typically not even talking about the exact same thing.”
It’s not just newcomers to learning about it either.
“Multiple studies have revealed that when educators in higher education are asked to define critical thinking, they too only muster a handful of buzzwords that collapse in on themselves when probed,” Pearlman says. “Experienced educators conceptualize critical thinking neither well nor consistently.”
Direction for Improved Understanding
“If you want to be the smarter person in the room when critical thinking comes up, be the one who recognizes the central problem: People will believe that their definition of critical thinking is the definitive definition, when it never is. It’s always partial,” Pearlman states.
“So, make an effort to affirm all that’s useful in their definition, but seize opportunities to expand the conception by exploring the aspects that have not been given attention. Doing so will not only expand everyone’s conception of critical thinking, it will feature you as a better critical thinker.”
Blocks to Thinking Critically and Effectively
“The crux of what prevents people from thinking critically or thinking critically more optimally is that they do not understand the difference between what they want their brain to do and what their brain wants to do in spite of them,” Pearlman explains.
He elaborates on the highly biological nature of our humanness:
“At its instinctive level, your brain wants to keep you alive. Given that you are alive, your brain consequently views its existing beliefs as good ones. They must be good, as evidenced by the fact that they have kept you alive,” Pearlman says.
“Therefore, on a deep and instinctive level, your brain considers any threat to your beliefs as a threat to your survival.”
He details why this emotionally, psychologically and instinctually occurs.
“The topic is irrelevant: to the brain, any ‘wrongness’ equals uncertainty, unknowns and therefore, a threat,” Pearlman says. “This is one reason we see couples end up in knock-down drag-out arguments over utterly trivial or ridiculous things, such as which way to organize a silverware drawer.
“Their brains are not really arguing about where to put the forks; their brains are fighting for survival because the suggestion that they are wrong about something is the threat in itself.”
A Smarter Approach to Increase Competence in the Skill
There is a pathway to improvement and building a less-reactive brain.
“One of the primary things I do to teach people to become better critical thinkers is to exercise their self-awareness about the distinction between the topic at hand and the actual stakes for survival,” Pearlman says.
“Cognizance about what is really at stake and more importantly, what is not, helps the brain transition out of its survivalist state into a more rational mode.”
He offers two brief recommendations.
“Start taking note of your emotions regarding your ideas,” Pearlman begins, adding that, ”Whenever you find yourself needing to feel “right,” then recognize that your brain is not really engaging the matter at hand. Your brain is fighting for the sensation of right-ness in order to feel safe.”
There is a second response he provides.
“At such times, actively and consciously remind your brain that no matter which way the silverware faces, you are going to be just fine,” Pearlman offers as an example. “Doing so will give it permission to stop its threat response and to engage a deeper thinking process.”
Outcome Benefits from Small Changes
There is reward available to us with improvement in how we process our thoughts.
Some benefits may present themselves quickly yet others will happen, eventually.
“Small, gradual improvements in critical thinking might not immediately revolutionize your decision-making, but over time, their compound effect is profound,” Pearlman says. “Each slight adjustment in how you think builds on the last, steering you toward better outcomes.”
“Contrary to popular belief, thinking skills aren’t fixed. They can be developed daily.”
Pearlman does admit that there is a level of complexity involved.
“Raw intelligence is more fixed, like an innate talent. Just like some people were born with more talent for singing than others, so are some people born with more raw processing power than others, or at least more processing power for some things, such as math,” he says.
“But unlike intelligence, critical thinking is a practice-based skill. We might best analogize it to something like reading: some people will learn to read more easily than others, but no one develops the skill without instruction and practice.”
Investing in skill development can result in welcome payoffs.
“Although dedicated instruction in critical thinking skills, akin to what we at CTI offer, can radically shift critical-thinking ability, incremental improvements matter a great deal,” Pearlman says.
“One small insight, like recognizing when your mind needs to feel ‘right’ might not dramatically shift the course of your life but the accumulation of such skills does.”
Constant focus and commitment to skill development pays big dividends.
“While dedicated instruction in critical thinking is best, even minor upgrades in your critical thinking skills are always valuable; you never know when they’ll become especially relevant,” Pearlman says.
“Since critical thinking covers so many areas, there’s no shortage of opportunities to strengthen this essential skill.
“Even without devoting your life to it, you can still make steady, meaningful progress that can change your life and all your relationships, at work and at home.”
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