Chapter 1 Beyond Feelings Who Are You? *Until recently, critical thinking wasn’t always taught in school….uncommon *Demand for Critical Thinking from orgs, education, leaders *Time to focus on thought rather than feeling---less on subjectivity and more on objectivity *Ability to think critically will effect your schoolwork, career, relationships and personal affairs Who Are You?

Introduction: Critical Thinking Brain Training Plan Analyze Consider Persuasion Increase Attention Synthesize *Thinking is just like any other skill, it can be improved with practice and by learning skills Brain Training Plan *In critical thinking we ANALYZE *Consider persuasion and learn that most statements are goal oriented -Almost all discourse has an intention -Persuasion can be non argumentative but be an attempt to manipulate your emotions or intelligence *Learn to be aware/pay attention….not be lazy about the info we are hearing *Synthesize: we have to take claims apart completely, look at every possible piece, consider context and other perspectives, facts and then put it all together in a comprehensive/cohesive way

The Context Step 1: Become An Individual *First, we have to master the fundamental concepts of critical thinking -the first is individuality: THINK FOR YOURSELF -find individuality by always considering CONTEXT *consider all angles and perspectives

Who Are You? Are you a product of your environment or did you choose to be who you are? ACTIVITY Make a list of 10 words that describe who you are. -Have to include ALL physical and emotional characteristics **secrets you’ve never told anyone, feelings that your not proud of, content of unconscious mind *Do you REALLY know who you are? -EX: what’s in your unconscious mind? *Why are we the way we are? -Did we choose to be this way or are we products of environment?

The Influence of Time and Place Would you still be you if you lived in a different time and place? *We are the product of the time and place we live in -effected by circumstances, understandings, beliefs and customs -our current time/place LIMITS our experiences and influences the way we think

The Influence of Mass Culture How does mass media effect who you are? The Future of Media *Being influenced by mass culture like never before *How does mass culture effect us? 1. we develop emotional, impulsive, gullible habits of consuming or wanting --ads show play as more gratifying than work….materialism as more meaningful than idealism….self gratification better than self control 2. weakens our attn span --lack of constant excitement makes every day life less interesting & less fulfilling 6

The “Science” of Manipulation Are your behaviors and beliefs conditioned in you? *Ivan Pavlov made manipulation a “science” (classical conditioning) *John Watson applied classical conditioning to human emotion *These strategies of manipulations are still effective (ads, politicians) -studies show that we are very easily manipulated but most of us think we are impervious *Many of the beliefs have been planted in our minds and replayed (reinforced) for years by politicians & advertisers Ivan Pavlov John Watson 7

The Influence of Psychology Is that your self esteem or your ego? *Psychological studies/theories place importance of self esteem -Prior to these studies, people believed hard work=self-esteem *they were encouraged to be self-disciplined, self-critical, practice self-denial (fasting) & to aim for self-knowledge. -What use to be considered self-centeredness is now called “self-esteem” *Current psych studies argue that success starts with self-esteem -EX: Studies show that when students believe they would do poorly in a subject…they do & vice versa -However, there’s also research showing that this current emphasis on self esteem doesn’t always=success *Frankl argues that highest human need is not self-actualization but self-transcendence --the need to not be absorbed with one’s self --we become fully human when we stop asking life to give to us and start asking what it wants from us…challenge brings meaning/fulfillment **”a cause to serve or a person to love” 8

Instructions for Becoming An Individual Treat your first reaction to any person, issue or situation as tentative… Decide why you reacted as you did… Think of other possible reactions… Ask yourself whether one of the other reactions is more appropriate than your first reaction *Not something we are born with but something that is acquired -understand that it is impossible to not be influenced by others/culture so the essence of individuality is vigilance Treat your first reaction to any person, issue or situation as tentative….no matter how appealing refuse to take it til u examine it Decide why you acted as you did…did you borrow that reaction from a friend, tv show, parent? Were you conditioned to respond that way? What past experiences may have evoked your current reaction? 3. Think of other possible reactions you might have had to the person, issue, or situation…this should open your mind to some possible alternatives for next time…just consider your options 4. Ask yourself whether one of the other reactions is more appropriate than your first reaction…and when you answer, resist the temptation to condition yourself….still keep an open mind 9