discussion1 07/13

As you have seen in your course materials, recognizing bias and errors in our thinking is crucial. Awareness of these errors is important for our study of cross-cultural psychology, but absolutely vital for interactions with others. As scholars we work to be as objective and evidence based as possible, and all too often these thinking errors cause us to misunderstand and misjudge people. Increasing awareness of our tendency to make these errors is helpful in all areas of life but is of particular value in helping professions. . That is why we talk about the ability to think about thinking, or metathinking.  Keep in mind that bias and errors in thinking are very human. The root cause is often the mind’s effort to save time and take shortcuts in understanding and responding to situations. Unfortunately, these shortcuts do not always result in accurate information, which may impact accurate decision making. That is why developing critical thinking skills involves evaluating your own thinking in order to know your vulnerabilities and how to enhance your decision-making skills.