Gidday Friends,

This week's Trilogy of Thoughts covers:

• Thought 1: Philosophical quote/or idea: Reflecting on philosophy and new ideas helps us become critical thinkers.

• Thought 2: A critical thinking (CT) idea discussed originally.

• Thought 3: CT actions to implement: You must put in the work.

  Note: Click on underlined words which link to more information.

THOUGHT 1: A QUOTE

Throughout history, thinkers within every part of society have been crippled by an ingrained bias toward their own views and the views of their preferred social groups. As these dangerous egocentric and sociocentric tendencies continue to pose the greatest threat to the advancement of rational societies’ (Dr Linda Elder, American Educational Psychologist in her book–Liberating the Mind…).

THOUGHT 2

TOPIC: Egocentric and Sociocentric Thought: The Two Major Barriers to Critical Thinking.

In a world where information is being catapulted at lightning speed across the globe, our minds are overstimulated as we attempt to make sense of what we think we know.

Ironically, what we need to know is very little, yet people are preoccupied with knowing everything at once, and what’s worse, they are shouting about it.

The need to broadcast one's superficial knowledge is not just self-indulgent but a grotesque display of entitlement and egotism.

To navigate this, the concept of critical thinking (CT) has become incredibly fashionable. Except it is now simply a buzzword easily declared by many as a skill they self-proclaim to practice effectively.

CT takes years of careful, thoughtful, considered practice.

It is a practice where you commit to challenging the problems of the mind. Despite this, most of us will continue to remain in a problematic relationship with our minds.

For all of time, the biggest barriers to CT are egocentric and sociocentric behaviours, but thanks to our modern communication channels, they are now emphasised to dangerous levels in the modern world.

Despite having more information at our fingertips, capable of delivering intellect faster than ever before, we find ourselves less intellectually capable than ever before.

Too much information is not a good thing.

Our modern world is filled with anxious, overburdened humans, who are psychologically incapable of processing the volumes of unnecessary information they are inundated with, about every intricate aspect of life.

I watch as people engage with almost everything, nit-picking over insignificant words, ideas, or opinions not to prove that someone else is wrong, but more so to prove that they are right.

This modern cultural debacle, affecting much of the English-speaking and ultra-privileged world, feeds into the egocentric nature of the individual.

It has become perfectly acceptable to selfishly expect to have our individualistic needs satisfied, obeyed, and attended to. We judge others harsher than we judge ourselves—this is an absolute catastrophe for the mind.   

To counteract our propensity for egocentrism, we must ensure we remain indebted to society, our family, and others, or risk allowing our human tendencies to accentuate the worst versions of ourselves.  

CT is about recognising that there are countless points of view (click here for a past newsletter on point of view and CT).

Knowing this makes one's own perspective unremarkable and unimportant. This is what it means to have humility.

People are simply talking too much about what they know and how much they can tell you when silence, humility, presence, and awareness seem to be the more necessary personal duties for health and well-being.

Egocentric and Sociocentric Thinking: An Overview

Egocentric thinking is a natural human tendency where individuals view everything in relation to themselves. This often manifests as an inability to see situations from perspectives other than one's own, leading to biased judgments and decisions.

Egocentric thinking is inherently self-centered as it tends to disregard the needs, beliefs, and opinions of others. This week I quoted Dr. Linda Elder a notable academic and psychologist and founder of Foundation for Critical Thinking of which I will be presenting this year, has extensively researched egocentric thinking, emphasising its role as a significant barrier to rational thought and intellectual development.

You can read about or buy her book Liberating the Mind: Overcoming Sociocentric Thought and Egocentric Tendencies here.

Sociocentric thinking, on the other hand, occurs when individuals conform their thinking to the social norms and expectations of ‘their’group. This kind of thinking prioritises the group's beliefs and values, often leading to a collective bias or groupthink that can suppress individual critical thought.

Sociocentric thinking encourages conformity and discourages questioning or challenging the status quo within the group. This tendency is increasingly evident in our modern era. We are now facing heightened loneliness and individualism as we watch people become more and more disconnected from vital family and friendship networks once considered crucial for our long-term sanity, social well-being, and especially to maintain humility.

As a result of this disconnection, we seek belonging, acceptance, and social power through online communities instead. However, these virtual interactions will fail to fulfil our deep-seated need for genuine human connection, leading to further isolation, dissatisfaction, and potential mental ill health.

*Activity: Explore the growing literature on loneliness and depression in the modern world.

The Anthropological Roots and Modern Incompatibility

From an anthropological perspective, egocentrism and sociocentrism have roots in our evolutionary history and social development.

They exist so in keeping it simple, we must accept they have a purpose, but while these tendencies once played crucial roles in human survival and societal cohesion, they have become increasingly incompatible with the modern world, particularly in the context of contemporary communication and idea integration.

It is better not to take what you think to be accurate so seriously. Read an article I linked by Yong, Li, & Kanazawa about our tendency to not be able to be as rational as we think we are and how we are more likely to create fictitious self-serving truths. This article is a great reflective read and should fire up those synapses of thought!

Survival and Social Cohesion:

• Egocentrism: Early human survival depended heavily on individuals prioritising their own needs and perspectives. This self-centered approach ensured that personal survival and reproduction were at the forefront of human behaviour. Egocentric thinking allowed individuals to make quick, self-serving decisions essential for immediate survival in a hostile environment.

• Sociocentrism: Similarly, sociocentric thinking helped early human groups maintain social cohesion and solidarity. By aligning individual behaviour with group norms and values, sociocentrism facilitated group unity, crucial for protection, resource sharing, and collective survival. Loyalty to the group and conformity to its norms ensured that members supported each other, enhancing the group’s overall chances of survival.

CT Activity: Think about which spaces you observe ego/socio-centric behaviour in the modern world. Be fair and honest with your assessment! Don’t forget to think about your egocentric tendencies!

Modern Incompatibility:

• Complexity of Information: In today’s world, the sheer volume and complexity of information require sophisticated and nuanced approaches to understanding and decision-making. Egocentric and sociocentric biases limit our ability to process diverse viewpoints and integrate complex ideas, leading to narrow-minded, biased, and problematic conclusions.

• Global Interconnectedness: Modern communication technologies have created a global village where diverse cultures, ideas, and perspectives interact continuously. Egocentrism and sociocentrism disallow effective communication and collaboration across cultural and ideological boundaries. They cause serious biases to get in the way and they promote division and conflict, rather than understanding and cooperation. Think about the online world and in particular comment threads. Evidence of this problematic biased behaviour lies there and is available for constant reflection.

• Critical Thinking Demands: The modern world demands higher levels of CT and intellectual humility but no one has been taught how to do this. Overcoming egocentric and sociocentric biases are essential for engaging with diverse perspectives as it helps innovation, inclusion, and for solving simple and complex local global problems. The ability to think beyond personal and group biases is crucial for progress in science, politics, and social issues! I cannot stress this enough! Egocentrisism can be recognised where there is aggression or resistance to engage with ideas one does not hold.

Knowledge Egocentrism in the Modern World

I try to connect the dots of the information I share with you to real-life modern world problems so let’s take a look at how I think these may manifest:

Online Communication:

Echo Chambers and Filter Bubbles: Social media platforms and search engines often use algorithms that show users content similar to what they have previously engaged with. This creates echo chambers, where individuals are exposed primarily to information and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs. This reinforcement of personal viewpoints can intensify egocentric thinking, making it harder for individuals to encounter and consider alternative perspectives.

The critical thinker knows the repercussions of this and takes this attack on the mind very seriously.

Personalisation Algorithms: These algorithms tailor content to individual preferences, creating personalised information ecosystems that cater to and reinforce the user's existing knowledge and beliefs. So if you have been watching a lot about one topic, the algorithm will keep reinforcing the belief you have divulged. This does not mean what you think is true, it is just what you are watching the most. Exposure can easily lead to bias for obvious reasons.

Social Validation: Platforms like social media encourage sharing and receiving validation through likes, comments, and shares. This can lead to a focus on content that is personally validating rather than objectively informative, reinforcing egocentric knowledge.

Anonymity and Lack of Accountability: The anonymity provided by online platforms can lead to more egocentric behaviours, as people feel less accountable for their actions and statements. This results in more extreme expressions of personal beliefs and a reduced willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

Tip: Stop debating or discussing complex topics with people online it is futile and does not lend well to CT.

Large-Scale Information Processing:

• Information Overload: The sheer volume of information available today is overwhelming us and this leads to selective processing. People unconsciously favour information that aligns with pre-existing beliefs, reinforcing egocentric tendencies.

• Confirmation Bias: In the age of information, confirmation bias becomes more pronounced as individuals can easily find data or opinions that support their views while ignoring contradictory evidence. This bias exacerbates egocentric thinking by allowing people to validate their own perspectives without critical examination.

Addressing Ego/Sociocentric Thinking

• Stop taking what you know so seriously. Each piece of information is merely a small speck of knowledge in the great well of things we need to know for our personal mental well-being.

• Invite others to call you out and challenge your thoughts. Interestingly, it's often our family and closest friends who do this for the right reasons. Disliking what they say doesn't justify cutting them off. Be cautious about seeking comfort, as those who care the least are likely to conceal their true opinions.

• Challenge yourself by reading views opposite to your own. If you hold strong opinions but haven't made an effort to disprove them, then you have some CT work awaiting you.

THOUGHT 3

Activities to Implement to Improve Your Thinking Skills:

• Buy or read Dr Linda Elder’s book or explore some of her ideas.

• Look up any words, concepts, or ideas that were new in my Newsletter. Do it now not later.

• Start to look at information as just a little more about something else. Not as a way to replace what is already known. Knowledge is not a dichotomy or a weapon. Those who use it as such should be avoided.

• Think about a topic you feel strongly about. I want you to reflect on how much you truly know about it. Think about the following:

  • What are the reasons you care about the topic

  • Why do you think what you do so far (think about who or what knowledge and exposure has contributed most of your understanding about it)

  • Do you get emotional when talking about it or when someone challenges your views

  • How much have you researched it

  • Have you researched opposing views yet

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    Until next Sunday, take care.

    Dr. Esha