Critical thinking is an invaluable skill that everyone should strive to achieve the highest level possible. Critical thinking is the ability to reflectively assess a situation while being sensitive to the context and consciously removing personal biases. In my life, critical thinking is applied in many areas. My job consistently presents circumstances that require troubleshooting and it is imperative to think through those situations critically. Logical conclusions are often clouded and difficult to dissect in my workplace because some employees cannot effectively remove their emotions from the equation. There is an innate drive to succeed among my peers and any admission of less than perfect results yield apprehensive and subjective troubleshooting efforts.
In addition, being the mother of two type 1 diabetic children requires me to analyze situations that directly impact their health. It is not always easy to remove the emotion because the short term solution requires more suffering on their part, but will prevent a longer lasting more dire situation from occurring in the future. They often present with great examples of predicaments where there is no right or wrong answer because of the situational nature of each event. Because of this, it is extraordinarily difficult to teach a care giver, like a school nurse, how to care for them effectively. Instead of providing a generic guide, we work through each situation honing their critical thinking skills so that they will be able to effectively care for situations that arise in the future.
Finally, critical thinking is also present in my life while planning for my future. As an adult, there are many difficult tasks to face and plan for. From career paths and financial ...
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...ronounced effort, a person can put most of their emotions aside and forge forward with an open mind. By nature, people tend to feel first and think second; this process generally leads to perceptions and thinking being shaped by emotions rather than critical thought (Bussey & Bandura, 1999, p. 4). Strong feelings cloud good critical thinking exercises and truly derail an evaluation.
Works Cited
Browne, M.N., & Keeley, S. M. (2012) Asking the right questions. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Bussey, K., & Bandura, A. (1999). Social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation. Psychological Review, 106(4), 676-713. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.106.4.676
Mejía D, A. (2009). In just what sense should I be critical? An exploration into the notion of 'assumption' and some implications for assessment. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 28(4), 351-367.
If I had spent several weeks preparing a term paper and received an assessment I did not agree with, LOI could help me see past the emotive and think critically about the feedback. At age fifty-two, I am still just a beginning student of critical thinking. I have used, in layman’s terms some of the principals in my professional and personal life. This week’s reading have helped to formulize some of the processes and attitudes I have practiced for over forty years.
A dominant debate in current psychological research is one on gender development. Psychologists try to understand relative importance of social and cognitive factors. Various theories are brought up in this field and in this essay two of the most standard theory in this field are going to be explained. The theories covered in this essay relate to aspects of children’s thinking that are central to their gender development. This will include, Kohlberg‘s theory of gender development (1966) and Bandura‘s theory of social cognitive development (1986). Theories like these help psychologists understand how and in which way children understand behaviour and which leads them to do so.
I have often felt that I’m a competent critical thinker, but then there is that word feeling in my statement. In chapter two, the author Ruggiero explains that often feeling and thought are interchangeable (18). On some issues I believe I have done just that, used my personal feelings and beliefs to influence my opinions, and arguments, preventing me from seeing the other side. For instance, how I originally viewed the homeless and poor. They were drunk, lazy, and had made the personal choice to live the way they were living. Of course, so...
It is a source of education and a powerful resource in the life of every individual and in social life. Despite the fact that the identification and analysis of critical thinking skills are beyond the boundaries of a single discipline or subject, the learning and application of these skills require possession of certain knowledge. The value of critical thinking is lost if it is treated as a list of logical operations, and the possession of certain knowledge is regarded simply as a collection of information. The investigation of the relationship of a value judgment and the actual use may lead to a new assessment of the need for common concepts of critical thinking and the possession of certain knowledge in education (Paul,
What critical thinking skills are needed for the leader committed to social justice to effectively communicate at all levels of practice?
Critical thinking is when an individual identifies and evaluates outside sources before making a decision. This is a very important still to learn to become an effective thinker and making educated choices. Critical thinking is fundamental when making choices, from selecting the right answer on multiple choice exams to choosing the right place and time to buy a house. An individual that has learned critical thinking is less expected to make poor choices that could potentially harm him or affect others. In theory this individual could calculate the consequences of his actions. A good critical thinker doesn’t need to memorize huge amounts of information. Instead, he asks questions, is open to alternative solutions, formulates theories,
Egan, Susan K., and David G. Perry. "Gender Identity: A Multidimensional Analysis With Implications For Psychosocial Adjustment.." Developmental Psychology 37.4 (2001): 451-463. Print.
Critical thinking is an important aspect of an individual’s daily life, regardless of an ethnicity, gender, or age. The individual, who has a strong sense of critical thinking skills, has a sense of inquisitiveness, finding an inventive solution to a problem or issue that he or she may be faced with. Critical thinking is used on an individual’s personal life he or she as well will use his or her critical thinking skills on a professional level. In the following paper the discussion of what critical thinking is as well as discusses the “University of Phoenix’s” decision making model, and how critical thinking skills can help us make a crucial decision. The subsequent paragraphs will also discuss the significance of as well as the benefits of critical thinking.
Chris had just been promoted as an Executive Assistant for Pat the CEO, Chief Executive Officer, of Faith Community Hospital. Pat had given Chris her very first assignment on her first day of work as an executive assistant and that was to gather information so that Pat can present the issues to the board of directors. Faith Hospital is faced with issues that needed attention and the board of directors must be notified of the issues so that a solution can be remedy to help the hospital stay in business.
My academic decisions can sometimes lead me to have a negative state of mind. The text states that critical thinking requires a willingness and passion to explore, probe, question, and search for answers and solutions. Staying positive and have a positive attitude can assist me in knowing how to approaching, and making decisions. The chapter also taught me that asking questions is a pa...
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
Knowledge is generated through critical and creative thinking. Creative thinking is something new or original that is created with value. Critical thinking is a type of thinking that questions assumptions and validates or invalidates a current belief or something that is said to be previously true. Knowledge is created through the culmination of generally accepted assumptions and creativity. How do you separate general assumptions and creativity? These two types of thinking can be easily separated in regards to concrete or realistic ideas compared to abstract or original ideas however to generate new, acceptable knowledge critical and creative thinking must interact together. The questioning of established beliefs with the creation of unorthodox new ideas will expose the most beneficial knowledge for the world.
Critical thinking is a process of applying various skills to analyze information. Critical thinking uses rationality to distinguish between emotion and fact. This paper will discuss the definition of critical thinking, and the skills it takes to think critically. It will also provide an example of critical thinking applied to my current working environment. Finally this paper will discuss the importance and benefits of critical thinking in the decision-making processes.
“An Army leader is any one who by virtue of assumed role or assigned responsibility inspires and influences peoples to accomplish organizational goals. She or He motivates people both inside and outside the chain of command to pursue actions, focus thinking, and shape decisions for the greater good of the organization.1” But for him to do that effectively and efficiently , he has to be prepared, shaped and refined. There are few institutions to prepare such leaders and CGSC is one of those institutions which are mandated, organized and equipped to prepare such leaders. In implementing its mandate, CGSC has programmed ILE common core C 100 to provide foundations for effective leadership development. The lessons covered in this block of instructions are important pillars of leadership development and impact on officers differently depending on the fields/specialties and the level of positions held. This paper therefore attempts to discuss the relevance of critical thinking and problem solving, group decision making, overcoming biases, planning and order production lessons on my future assignment as a logistics staff officer.
In his essay Critical Thinking: What Is It Good For? (In Fact, What Is It), Howard Gabennesch explains the importance of critical thinking by drawing attention to how its absence is responsible for societies many ills including, but not limited to, the calamity in Vietnam. Yet, at the end of his essay, Gabennesch also mentions that, despite “the societal benefits of critical thinking, at the individual level, uncritical thinking offers social and psychological rewards of its own.”(14). Similarly, it is these rewards that, like the bait on a fishhook, often make individuals hesitant to engage in critical thinking despite the resulting harm to both them and society.