January 28th, 2024.

Today’s critical thinking topic: Bias

Biases, while they either aid us or impact us negatively, they play an important role in shaping our perspectives.

STEP 1: Just be aware that you have them. Full stop. As soon as you are aware, you’re ahead of all others.

Now, let’s figure out how to leverage them for our success.

Biases are personal beliefs which impact the way we think and see the world. They form the foundation to our opinions. They are omnipresent and irremovable. Instead of eliminating them, which is not possible, we can use them to our benefit rather than our detriment.

Biased thinking is a barrier to critical thinking and intelligent thinking. It hinders listening, engagement and communication.

To be an intelligent thinker, we must be mindful of the inherent human tendency towards detrimental bias in nearly every interaction.  

Given all humans participate in biased thinking, It is crucial to acknowledge that it is ingrained in our biological state.

Before we go on, a reminder from me: despite my sociological academic background, where relevant, I recognise the significant scientific intersections between biology, psychology and sociology in my Newsletters and educational discourse. Biased knowledge production is treacherous, self-cancelling, and most importantly, it is not indicative of critical thinking.  

Biases serve a purpose for human beings aiding decision-making based on what we believe to be right and wrong. That is, they form our value system.

For example, you may decide to invite a person into your work or friendship circle as you discover shared ideas and thoughts, believing they are a good match. Simultaneously, these biases equally contribute to whether we reject or exclude someone, based on the perception that they might be detrimental or not a good match.

INSIGHT

However, gaining insight into how our biases operate opens up a different approach or decision. For example, deeper insight into how we think, may instead lead us to include a person with whom we may not share the same modes of thinking but whose diverse input we value. By doing this, the unique thinking ability of this individual could enrich the way the same idea is viewed.

This becomes especially valuable in workplaces where diverse thinking is essential for fostering innovation and creativity. It is also important to remember this amongst friends, family members and members within our communities.

We all have the capacity to think differently, and this is normal as well as okay.

Historically, biases assisted people being able to protect ideas and values of local communities and societies. Now, in today’s information-rich world, where we are inundated with diverse perspectives, biases that once protected are now hindrances.

This is especially as people have not been trained on how biases work and how to use them intelligently.  

Living in multicultural societies demands interaction with intercultural ideas in our homes, workspaces and social circles. Contrary to their historical role, biases now pose challenges in the modern era of an information revolution.

Understanding controlling and utilising biases for critical thinking is imperative. It will help proceed with intelligent judgement and decisions.

We cannot control how others think, but we can control how we think. This energy over managing our own biases will preserve our sanity and aid success.  

AWARENESS

People who are aware of biases can positively aid decision making, yet most people are unaware of how to understand, recognise and challenge their biases, and this negatively impacts decision making and is often the reason for relationship breakdowns.

Strive to get to a point where you are aware of your biases and are able to reflectively and intelligently use them for your benefit.

Strongly held biases impact our ability to be open to new information. For those in leadership or positions of power, biases can become barriers to innovation and creativity from people hindering progress.

Biased thinking is lazy and comfortable. Biased thinking practices cause other people to self-censor, limit the sharing of new ideas and stagnates progress. It keeps people, organisations and communities in the past.

The relationship between bias and power is a significant one and can be either profoundly enabling or profoundly disabling for those impacted. Stay tuned for future Sunday Synapse Newsletters which will expand on the topic of bias and power.

To grow we need out dated and old ways of thinking to be challenged. We need rejuvenation of ideas.

We are often unconscious about our biases. My newsletters will guide you in becoming conscious of them. The fist step to intelligent critical thinking is recognising the problematic nature of biases. Knowing we all have biases fosters tolerance, inviting diverse thinking.

Where you expect all people to be the same and conform thinking, this blocks diversity of thinking as well as modernisation.

Two crucial elements of bias:

1.     We have them and need to understand them for clearer perspectives.

 2.    Embrace others uniqueness and diversity to reduce the negative impact of biases.

How to identify problematic biases:

·     You expect others to agree with you and often become emotional (angry, frustrated, nervous, anxious, heart palpitations, irritable) when you are engaged in a conversation where others have different views.

·      You make negative comments on other people’s ideas without balancing positive ones.

·      You do not invite dialogue or expansion of another person’s ideas.

·      You have rigid ideas and you rarely invite challenge, in fact, most people often agree with you.

·      You are a leader in a space where the people you lead rarely innovate or offer new ideas.

·      Your relationships often breakdown, marked by poor communication, combative engagement with others.  

Why work on your mind and your thoughts?

The ultimate power is a free mind.

You can get there as you learn how to understand the way your mind operates, its weaknesses as well as its strengths. You can slowly train your mind to draw on its full capacity. These practices will slowly allow you to clean your mind allowing your thoughts to flow unclouded.

A little test for you: Voluntarily invite other people to challenge your thinking. Be brave in your pursuit for a stronger, more flexible mind. Debase those biases and become a smarter thinker!

Stay tuned for the Sunday Synapse, which will be delivered to your inbox every Sunday! Get ready to take on a new week better than you were last week!

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Until next Sunday, take care.

Dr. Esha.