Yesterday some of my students discussed their concern about the approval of the Willow Project, which involves drilling for oil in Alaska. Their main objection was that it will cause global warming. I explained that oil drilling doesn’t cause global warning. Yet they protested that it does and showed me an article from the CNN news network. After skimming the article I could see how they made an indirect connection. The article claims oil drilling will lead to more gas production and gas production will lead to more cars being driven. Thus. the carbon dioxide emissions from the increased vehicle usage will add to global warming. Once again I tried to explain that oil drilling does not directly cause global warming nor does it necessarily lead to it, because there are several factors involved. My point in bringing it up is not to explore the controversial topic of climate change, but rather to touch on the importance of thinking critically. In our information age plagued with censorship, gaslighting, misinformation, disinformation, and biases, thinking critically is necessary to discern truth, avoid deception, and resist being controlled.
Cognitive Biases
One aspect of critical thinking is recognizing cognitive biases that we are all prone to as we process information. Over a hundred cognitive biases exist, but I will just spotlight five main ones which can cause you to deviate from normal or rational judgment.
- Anchoring Bias is the tendency to prioritize information you heard first and not re-evaluate based on new evidence. It is also to lean toward a single source or over rely on a familiar tool or method. For instance, sticking with what one friend told you about a situation and not being open to what others tell you about that situation mainly because their reports came later.
- Confirmation Bias involves accepting, interpreting, trusting, and recalling information that only aligns with your existing beliefs. For instance, rejecting the advice of a parent because it doesn’t agree with what you and your friends think.
- Conformity Bias is the tendency to believe something more readily if a large group believes it, if it is repeated often, or if it seems socially correct. It also involves giving an opinion you don’t really hold so as not to offend anyone. For instance, going along with group consensus because of peer pressure.
- Cognitive Dissonance is your hesitancy to deny planning for or responding to an emergency which you have never been exposed to. It can also includes over valuing something just because you participated in creating it. For instance, mistakenly interpreting loud nearby sounds as traffic noise or construction rather than the gunfire it is because you’ve never been around shooting.
- Egocentric Bias is the tendency to filter information and interact with others from an exalted view of yourself. For instance, feeling superior or seeing a fault in others, but being blind to it in yourself.
Overcoming Biases
In general, to guard against biases you need a proper perspective which doesn’t overemphasize past, present, or future circumstances, which doesn’t give in to unhealthy influences of others or the media, and which doesn’t focus on yourself. You need a godly perspective and divine wisdom which transcends this world. These can only come from a relationship with God and knowing his word, the Bible. Jesus, God the Son, makes that possible for anyone who believes in him to save them from their wrongdoing and from the deceptive, evil practices of this world.
Know God’s Word
God reveals wisdom and truth through his word (2 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:1, 9, 14). Anyone who studies the Bible and takes it to heart will be blessed. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3). Resist negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones rooted in God’s character and will (2 Corinthians 10:5). The apostle Paul advised believers to rejoice and bring their concerns to God then he wrote, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit [of God] have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5-6).
Follow Jesus
The word of God is fulfilled in Jesus. As you study his word it should point you to developing an ever deepening relationship with God through Jesus. Trust and obey Jesus, then from that relationship you can think and act effectively because you have his joy, hope, wisdom, purpose, and power to live rightly and abundantly. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Jesus taught, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
Conclusion
You’ve heard the adage, “Don’t believe everything you see or hear.” Or “There are two sides to every story.” Thinking critically about the messages you are exposed to helps you to discover the truth, as well as, to overcome biases, and to avoid deception and manipulation. You can implement some strategies to help develop your thinking, but the best strategy is allowing God to guide you through his word and through trusting and obeying Jesus.