what are the five barriers to critical thinking

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12 common barriers to critical thinking (and how to overcome them).

As you know, critical thinking is a vital skill necessary for success in life and work. Unfortunately,  barriers to critical thinking  can hinder a person’s ability. This piece will discuss some of the most common  internal and external barriers to critical thinking  and what you should do if one of them hinders your ability to think critically.

Critical Thinking Challenges

You already know that  critical thinking  is the process of analyzing and evaluating a situation or person so that you can make a sound judgment. You normally use the judgment you derive from your critical thinking process to make crucial decisions, and the choices you make affect you in workplaces, relationships, and life’s goals and achievements.

Several  barriers to critical thinking  can cause you to skew your judgment. This could happen even if you have a large amount of data and information to the contrary. The result might be that you make a poor or ineffective decision instead of a choice that could improve your life quality. These are some of the top obstacles that hinder and distort the ability to think critically:

1. Using Emotions Instead of Logic

Failing to remove one’s emotions from a critical thinking analysis is one of the hugest barriers to the process. People make these mistakes mainly in the relationship realm when choosing partners based on how they “make them feel” instead of the information collected.

The correct way to decide about a relationship is to use all facts, data, opinions, and situations to make a final judgment call. More times than not, individuals use their hearts instead of their minds.

Emotions can hinder critical thinking in the employment realm as well. One example is an employee who reacts negatively to a business decision, change, or process without gathering more information. The relationship between that person and the employer could become severed by her  lack of critical thinking  instead of being salvaged by further investigations and rational reactions.

2. Personal Biases

Personal biases can come from past negative experiences, skewed teachings, and peer pressure. They create a huge obstacle in critical thinking because they overshadow open-mindedness and fairness.

One example is failing to hire someone because of a specific race, age, religious preference, or perceived attitude. The hiring person circumvents using critical thinking by accepting his or her biases as truth. Thus, the entire processes of information gathering and objective analysis get lost in the mix.

3. Obstinance

Stubbornness almost always ruins the critical thinking procedure. Sometimes, people get so wrapped up in being right that they fail to look at the big picture. Big-picture thinking is a large part of critical thinking; without it, all judgments and choices are rash and incomplete.

4. Unbelief

It’s difficult for a person to do something he or she doesn’t believe in. It’s also challenging to engage in something that seems complex. Many people don’t think critically because they believe they must be scholarly to do so. The truth is that  anyone  can think critically by practicing the following steps:

• 1. Gather as much data as possible.
• 2. Have an opinion, but be open to changing it.
• 3. Understand that assumptions are not the truth, and opinions are not facts.
• 4. Think about the scenario, person, or problem from different angles.
• 5. Evaluate all the information thoroughly.
• 6. Ask simple, precise, and abundant questions.
• 7. Take time to observe.
• 8. Don’t be afraid to spend time on the problem or issue.
• 9. Ask for input or additional information.
• 10. Make it make sense.

5. Fear of Failure or Change

Fear of change and failure often hinders a person’s critical thinking process because it doesn’t allow thinking outside the box. Sometimes, the most efficient way to resolve a problem is to be open to changing something.

That change might be a different way of doing something, a relationship termination, or a shift of positions at a workplace. Fear can block out all possible scenarios in the critical thinking cycle. The result is often one-dimensional thinking, tunnel vision, or proverbial head-banging.

6. Egocentric Thinking

Egocentric thinking is also one of the main barriers to critical thinking. It occurs when a person examines everything through a “me” lens. Evaluating something properly requires an individual to understand and consider other people’s perspectives, plights, goals, input, etc.

7. Assumptions

Assumptions are one of the negative  factors that affect critical thinking . They are detrimental to the process because they cause distortions and misguided judgments. When using assumptions, an individual could unknowingly insert an invalid prejudgment into a stage of the thought process and sway the final decision.

It’s never wise to assume anything about a person, entity, or situation because it could be 100 percent wrong. The correct way to deal with assumptions is to store them in a separate thought category of possibilities and then use the data and other evidence to validate or nullify them.

XYZ  might  be why ABC happened, but there isn’t enough information or data to conclude it. The same concept is true for the rest of the possibilities, and thus, it’s necessary to research and analyze the facts before accepting them as truths.

8. Group Thinking

Group thinking is another one of the  barriers to critical thinking  that can block sound decisions and muddy judgments. It’s similar to peer pressure, where the person takes on the viewpoint of the people around him or her to avoid seeming “different.”

This barrier is dangerous because it affects how some people think about right and wrong. It’s most prevalent among teens. One example is the “everybody’s doing it (drugs, bullying), so I should too” mindset.

Unfortunately, this barrier can sometimes spill over into the workplace and darken the environment when workers can’t think for themselves. Workers may end up breaking policies, engaging in negative behavior, or harassing the workers who don’t conform.

Group thinking can also skew someone’s opinion of another person before the individual gets a chance to collect facts and evaluate the person for himself. You’ve probably heard of smear campaigns. They work so well against targets because the parties involved don’t use the critical thinking process at all.

9. Impulsivity

Impulsivity is the tendency to do things without thinking, and it’s a bona fide critical thinking killer. It skips right by  every  step in the critical thinking process and goes directly to what feels good in the moment.

Alleviating the habit takes practice and dedication. The first step is to set time aside when impulsive urges come to think about all aspects of the situation. It may take an impulsive person a while to develop a good critical thinking strategy, but it can work with time.

10. Not Knowing What’s Fact and Opinion

Critical thinking requires the thinker to know the difference between facts and opinions. Opinions are statements based on other people’s evaluative processes, and those processes may not be critical or analytical. Facts are an unemotional and unbiased piece of data that one can verify. Statistics and governmental texts are examples.

11. Having a Highly Competitive Nature

A “winning” mindset can overshadow the fair and objective evaluation of a problem, task, or person and undermine critical thinking. People who  think competitively  could lose sight of what’s right and wrong to meet a selfish goal that way.

12. Basing Statements on Popularity

This problem is prevalent in today’s world. Many people will accept anything a celebrity, political figure, or popular person says as gospel, but discredit or discount other people’s input. An adept critical thinker knows how to separate  what’s  being said from  who  said it and perform the necessary verification steps.

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How To Overcome Barriers in Critical Thinking

If you can identify any of the above-mentioned  barriers , your critical thinking may be flawed. These are some tips for overcoming such barriers:

1. Know your flaws.

The very first step toward improving anything is to know and admit your flaws. If you can do that, you are halfway to using better critical thinking strategies.

2. Park your emotions.

Use logic, not emotion, when you are evaluating something to form a judgment. It’s not the time to think with your heart.

3. Be mindful of others.

Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes to understand their stance. A little empathy goes a long way.

4. Avoid black-and-white thinking.

Understand that there’s always more than one way to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Additionally, consider that not every person is all bad or all good.

5. Dare to be unpopular.

Avoid making decisions to please other people. Instead, evaluate the full lot of information and make the decision you feel is best.

6. Don’t assign unjustified merit.

Don’t assume someone is telling the truth or giving you more accurate information because of his or her name or status. Evaluate  all  people’s input equally.

7. Avoid judging others.

Try to keep biases and prejudices out of your decision-making processes. That will make them fair and just.

8. Be patient with yourself.

Take all the days you need to pick apart a situation or problem and resolve it. Don’t rush to make hasty decisions.

9. Accept different points of view.

Not everyone will agree with you or tell you what you want to hear.

10. Embrace change.

Don’t ever be afraid of changing something or trying something new. Thinking outside the box is an integral part of the critical thinking process.

Now you know the answers to the question,  “What are the challenges of critical thinking?”  Use the information about the  barriers to critical thinking  to improve your critical thinking process and make healthier and more beneficial decisions for everyone.

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Jenny Palmer

Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

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1.2.1: Common Barriers to Critical Thinking Expanded

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Common Barriers to Critical Thinking Expanded with Further Examples

Critical thinking is essential for effective reading and writing at the college level, but several common barriers can impede our ability to think critically. Understanding these barriers helps in developing strategies to overcome them and enhance our analytical and evaluative skills. Most of these will be covered in greater detail later on in this book, this is a broad overview.

" Stop Barrier Ahead " by andyarthur is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

1. Cognitive Biases

Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment. They affect our ability to think clearly and objectively, leading to errors in reasoning.

• Confirmation Bias : This occurs when we favor information that confirms our preexisting beliefs and ignore or undervalue evidence that contradicts them. In reading and writing, this can result in selective citation of sources that only support our arguments, neglecting contrary evidence.
• Anchoring Bias : This involves relying too heavily on the first piece of information encountered (the "anchor") when making decisions. For writers, this might mean sticking rigidly to an initial thesis even when new evidence suggests a different conclusion.
• Availability Heuristic : This bias leads us to overestimate the importance of information that is most readily available to us. In a research context, it may result in over-relying on easily accessible sources rather than seeking out more comprehensive and reliable information.

2. Emotional Influences

Emotions play a significant role in shaping our thoughts and decisions, often hindering our ability to think critically.

• Stress and Anxiety : High levels of stress and anxiety can cloud judgment and impede critical thinking. For students, the pressure of deadlines and academic performance can make it difficult to engage deeply with material and think critically about it.
• Personal Biases : Emotional attachment to certain beliefs or ideas can prevent us from objectively analyzing information. For example, a writer who feels strongly about a particular issue may struggle to present a balanced argument that considers multiple perspectives.

3. Lack of Information

Inadequate or incomplete information can severely limit our ability to evaluate situations and make informed decisions.

• Superficial Understanding : Skimming texts or failing to fully engage with material can result in a shallow understanding of the content. This can lead to weak arguments and poorly supported conclusions in writing.
• Over-reliance on Secondary Sources : Relying heavily on secondary sources without consulting primary data can introduce inaccuracies and biases into our analysis. Critical readers and writers need to seek out and verify original sources of information.

4. Overconfidence

Overconfidence in our knowledge and abilities can hinder critical thinking by leading to complacency and a lack of thoroughness.

• Assuming Expertise : Believing we know more than we do can prevent us from seeking additional information or questioning our assumptions. This is particularly problematic in academic writing, where a thorough and nuanced understanding is essential.
• Dismissing Feedback : Overconfidence can make us resistant to feedback and criticism, which are crucial for refining our ideas and improving our work.

5. Groupthink

Groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony or conformity in a group leads to irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcomes.

• Pressure to Conform : In academic settings, students might feel pressured to align their opinions with those of their peers or instructors, stifling independent critical thinking.
• Lack of Diverse Perspectives : Groupthink can result in a lack of diverse viewpoints, which is detrimental to critical analysis. Effective critical thinking requires considering a wide range of perspectives and challenging dominant narratives.

" Stop! Go Left! Straight ahead! Don't run over the crazy foreigner taking photos of street lights! " by LeRamz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 .

Overcoming Barriers to Critical Thinking

Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward overcoming them. Strategies to enhance critical thinking in reading and writing include:

• Active Engagement : Engage deeply with texts by annotating, questioning, and discussing the material.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Actively seek out and consider multiple viewpoints to broaden your understanding.
• Reflective Thinking : Regularly reflect on your thought processes and be open to adjusting your views based on new evidence.
• Emotional Regulation : Develop strategies to manage stress and emotions, such as mindfulness or taking breaks, to maintain clarity in thinking.

By addressing these barriers, students can improve their critical thinking skills, leading to more insightful reading, effective writing, and overall academic success.

Mixing and Matching Critical Thinking Barriers

" #mix and #match #mismatch: #pink and #blue #shoes " by cavale is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 .

Critical thinking is essential for academic success and effective problem-solving, but various barriers can impede our ability to think critically. These barriers often do not exist in isolation and can combine, creating even greater challenges. For example, you might experience cognitive biases and emotional influences simultaneously. Imagine writing a research paper on the impact of pesticide use on local agriculture with a strong personal belief that pesticides are harmful. This confirmation bias leads you to favor sources that support your view while feeling angry when encountering studies suggesting otherwise, causing selective citation and an unbalanced argument. To overcome this, actively seek out differing viewpoints, discuss your topic with those who hold different perspectives, reflect on how your emotions and biases may affect your judgment, and practice mindfulness techniques to manage emotional responses.

Another example is when a lack of information combines with overconfidence. You might feel confident about your knowledge of local water rights issues because you grew up in the area, yet rely heavily on secondary sources without seeking primary data, leading to an incomplete understanding. Overcome this by thoroughly researching primary sources like government reports, consulting local experts, regularly questioning your assumptions, and staying humble to embrace a growth mindset.

Groupthink and cognitive biases often occur together. In a group project on sustainable farming practices, you may feel pressured to conform to the group's opinion and overlook contradictory data, stifling critical thinking. Encourage open dialogue, suggest researching multiple methods, reflect on how group dynamics influence your judgment, and manage discomfort with dissenting views to promote a thorough and balanced approach.

Emotional influences can also pair with overconfidence. Preparing for a debate on immigration policies, you might feel passionately due to personal connections and dismiss opposing arguments without full consideration. Combat this by researching opposing viewpoints thoroughly, engaging in discussions with those holding different views, reflecting on how your emotions and confidence impact objectivity, and practicing stress-relief techniques to maintain rational thinking.

Lastly, lack of information and cognitive biases can overlap. Writing a report on climate change effects in the Central Valley, you might assume minimal local impacts and gather only supporting information while relying on superficial sources. Delve deeper into authoritative sources, consult climate experts, challenge your initial assumptions, and remain open to revising your views based on comprehensive evidence.

Recognizing and overcoming these mixed barriers is crucial for effective critical thinking. By actively engaging with material, seeking diverse perspectives, practicing reflective thinking, and regulating emotions, community college students can enhance their critical thinking skills and navigate academic and real-world challenges more effectively. This integrated approach ensures a more thorough, balanced, and critical analysis of issues, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving outcomes.

Examples with real world scenarios

Cognitive biases.

Critical thinking is essential for academic success and effective problem-solving. However, various barriers can impede our ability to think critically. Here’s how to recognize and overcome these barriers, illustrated with real-world examples relevant to community college students in a Central Valley, CA setting.

Example: Confirmation Bias \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example 1 : You are researching the impact of agricultural policies on small farms. Initially, you believe that current policies are beneficial. To overcome confirmation bias, you deliberately read studies and reports that critique these policies. Discussing with classmates who work on different types of farms broadens your understanding and leads you to a more balanced view.

• Definition : Favoring information that confirms preexisting beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
• Active Engagement : Actively seek out sources that challenge your viewpoint.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Engage with diverse perspectives by discussing your ideas with peers who have different viewpoints.
• Reflective Thinking : Regularly reflect on your biases and be willing to adjust your beliefs when presented with new evidence.
• Emotional Regulation : Stay open-minded and manage emotional reactions to conflicting information.

Example 2: You are researching the impact of housing policies on urban development in San Francisco. Initially, you believe that current policies are beneficial for all residents. To overcome confirmation bias, you deliberately read studies and reports that critique these policies. Discussing with classmates who live in different neighborhoods or who have different housing experiences broadens your understanding and leads you to a more balanced view.

• Definition: Favoring information that confirms preexisting beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
• Active Engagement: Actively seek out sources that challenge your viewpoint.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Engage with diverse perspectives by discussing your ideas with peers who have different viewpoints.
• Reflective Thinking: Regularly reflect on your biases and be willing to adjust your beliefs when presented with new evidence.
• Emotional Regulation: Stay open-minded and manage emotional reactions to conflicting information.

Example: Anchoring Bias \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example 1 : In a sociology paper, your initial research suggests that urbanization negatively impacts rural communities. As you continue your research, you find evidence of positive impacts, such as improved access to education and healthcare. Adjusting your thesis to reflect these new findings ensures a more accurate and comprehensive analysis.

Anchoring Bias:

• Definition : Relying too heavily on the first piece of information encountered.
• Active Engagement : Be willing to revise your thesis or initial conclusions as new evidence emerges.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Consult multiple sources before forming a conclusion.
• Reflective Thinking : Question the validity of the initial information and consider alternative explanations.
• Emotional Regulation : Stay flexible and open to changing your stance based on new information.

Example 2 :

In an economics paper, your initial research suggests that the high cost of living in Los Angeles is solely due to housing shortages. As you continue your research, you find evidence of other contributing factors such as zoning laws, income disparities, and economic policies. Adjusting your thesis to reflect these new findings ensures a more accurate and comprehensive analysis.

• Definition: Relying too heavily on the first piece of information encountered.
• Active Engagement: Be willing to revise your thesis or initial conclusions as new evidence emerges.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Consult multiple sources before forming a conclusion.
• Reflective Thinking: Question the validity of the initial information and consider alternative explanations.
• Emotional Regulation: Stay flexible and open to changing your stance based on new information.

Exampl: Availability Heuristic \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example 1 : While preparing a presentation on climate change, you initially rely on a few well-known websites. To ensure a thorough analysis, you explore academic journals and government reports, gaining a more nuanced understanding of climate impacts on agriculture in the Central Valley.

Availability Heuristic:

• Definition : Overestimating the importance of information that is most readily available.
• Active Engagement : Dig deeper into the topic and avoid relying solely on easily accessible sources.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Use academic databases and library resources to find a range of information.
• Reflective Thinking : Assess the representativeness of readily available information.
• Emotional Regulation : Avoid jumping to conclusions based on convenience and ease of access.

Example 2 :While preparing a presentation on the effects of homelessness in Los Angeles, you initially rely on a few well-known news websites. To ensure a thorough analysis, you explore academic journals, government reports, and local nonprofit studies, gaining a more nuanced understanding of the various factors contributing to homelessness in the city.

• Definition: Overestimating the importance of information that is most readily available.
• Active Engagement: Dig deeper into the topic and avoid relying solely on easily accessible sources.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Use academic databases and library resources to find a range of information.
• Reflective Thinking: Assess the representativeness of readily available information.
• Emotional Regulation: Avoid jumping to conclusions based on convenience and ease of access.

Emotional Influences

Example: stress & anxiety \(\pageindex{1}\).

Example : Facing multiple deadlines, you feel overwhelmed and struggle to focus on your assignments. By creating a detailed schedule and taking short breaks, you manage your time better and reduce anxiety, allowing for clearer and more critical thinking.

Stress and Anxiety:

• Definition : High levels of stress and anxiety can cloud judgment and impede critical thinking.
• Active Engagement : Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to reduce stress.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Discuss your stressors with peers or advisors to gain support and alternative viewpoints.
• Reflective Thinking : Reflect on past successes to build confidence.
• Emotional Regulation : Practice mindfulness, deep breathing, or take breaks to manage stress.

Example 2 : As a student in a community college in a Rocky Mountain town in Colorado, you are juggling a part-time job, coursework, and volunteer work with a local conservation group. The pressure of balancing these responsibilities leaves you feeling anxious and unable to concentrate on your studies. By setting clear priorities, creating a structured weekly plan, and incorporating outdoor activities like hiking to relax, you manage your workload more effectively. This approach reduces your stress levels and enhances your ability to think critically and complete your assignments efficiently.

• Definition: High levels of stress and anxiety can cloud judgment and impede critical thinking.
• Active Engagement: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to reduce stress.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Discuss your stressors with peers or advisors to gain support and alternative viewpoints.
• Reflective Thinking: Reflect on past successes to build confidence.
• Emotional Regulation: Practice mindfulness, deep breathing, or take breaks to manage stress.

Example: Personal Biases \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example : You feel strongly about immigration issues and have always believed in strict policies. During a class debate, you listen to classmates who share personal stories about the benefits of more inclusive policies. This helps you appreciate different perspectives and refine your arguments.

Personal Biases:

• Definition : Emotional attachment to certain beliefs or ideas can prevent objective analysis.
• Active Engagement : Consciously challenge your personal biases by engaging with opposing views.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Involve yourself in discussions with people holding different opinions.
• Reflective Thinking : Reflect on why you hold certain beliefs and how they may bias your analysis.
• Emotional Regulation : Keep emotions in check to maintain objectivity.

Lack of Information

Example: superficial understanding \(\pageindex{1}\).

Example : In a history class, you are assigned to write about the Dust Bowl. Instead of just skimming a few articles, you read comprehensive accounts, watch documentaries, and analyze primary sources, resulting in a richer and more informed paper.

Superficial Understanding:

• Definition : Skimming texts or failing to fully engage with material can result in a shallow understanding.
• Active Engagement : Read materials thoroughly and take detailed notes.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Cross-reference multiple sources to deepen your understanding.
• Reflective Thinking : Summarize what you've learned and identify any gaps in your knowledge.
• Emotional Regulation : Stay focused and patient, avoiding the urge to rush through material.

Example 2 :In a marine biology class at a community college in Florida, you are assigned to write a report on the impact of coral bleaching. Instead of just reading a couple of articles online, you dive deeper by studying scientific journals, watching documentaries, and interviewing local marine biologists. This comprehensive approach results in a richer and more informed paper that covers various aspects of coral ecosystems and the specific causes and effects of bleaching in Florida waters.

• Definition: Skimming texts or failing to fully engage with material can result in a shallow understanding.
• Active Engagement: Read materials thoroughly and take detailed notes.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Cross-reference multiple sources to deepen your understanding.
• Reflective Thinking: Summarize what you've learned and identify any gaps in your knowledge.
• Emotional Regulation: Stay focused and patient, avoiding the urge to rush through material.

Example: Over-reliance on Secondary Sources \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example : For a psychology paper, you initially base your arguments on textbook summaries. By accessing original studies and raw data, you gain a deeper insight into psychological theories, allowing you to present a more accurate and credible analysis.

Over-reliance on Secondary Sources:

• Definition : Relying heavily on secondary sources without consulting primary data can introduce inaccuracies and biases.
• Active Engagement : Seek out primary sources, such as original research, firsthand accounts, and raw data.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Compare primary sources with secondary analyses to see different interpretations.
• Reflective Thinking : Evaluate the credibility and context of primary sources.
• Emotional Regulation : Remain diligent and avoid the temptation to take shortcuts.

Overconfidence

Example: assuming expertise \(\pageindex{1}\).

Example : Confident in your understanding of agricultural practices, you write an essay on sustainable farming without consulting recent studies. After receiving feedback from your professor, you realize the importance of reviewing the latest research, leading to a more informed and credible essay.

Assuming Expertise:

• Definition : Believing we know more than we do can prevent us from seeking additional information or questioning our assumptions.
• Active Engagement : Continuously seek new information and stay updated with recent research.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Encourage feedback from peers and instructors to identify knowledge gaps.
• Reflective Thinking : Regularly question your assumptions and be open to learning.
• Emotional Regulation : Cultivate humility and recognize the limits of your knowledge.

Example 2 :Confident in your understanding of renewable energy technologies, you write an essay on solar power implementation in suburban Orange County without consulting recent studies. After receiving feedback from your professor, you realize the importance of reviewing the latest research on technological advancements and policy changes. This leads to a more informed and credible essay that accurately reflects current trends and data.

• Definition: Believing we know more than we do can prevent us from seeking additional information or questioning our assumptions.
• Active Engagement: Continuously seek new information and stay updated with recent research.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Encourage feedback from peers and instructors to identify knowledge gaps.
• Reflective Thinking: Regularly question your assumptions and be open to learning.
• Emotional Regulation: Cultivate humility and recognize the limits of your knowledge.

Example: Dismissing Feedback \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example : You receive feedback on a draft of your research paper suggesting significant revisions. Initially resistant, you reflect on the feedback and realize it can enhance your argument. By making the suggested changes, your final paper is much stronger.

Dismissing Feedback:

• Definition : Overconfidence can make us resistant to feedback and criticism, which are crucial for refining our ideas and improving our work.
• Active Engagement : Actively seek out and consider constructive feedback.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Discuss your work with others to gain new insights.
• Reflective Thinking : Reflect on feedback and identify areas for improvement.
• Emotional Regulation : Manage defensiveness and accept criticism as an opportunity for growth.

Example: Pressure to Conform \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example : In a group project, everyone agrees on a specific approach that you believe is flawed. By respectfully presenting your concerns and suggesting alternative strategies, you help the group consider different perspectives and potentially improve the project's outcome.

Pressure to Conform:

• Definition : In academic settings, students might feel pressured to align their opinions with those of their peers or instructors, stifling independent critical thinking.
• Active Engagement : Encourage open dialogue and express your own ideas confidently.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Foster an environment where diverse opinions are valued.
• Reflective Thinking : Reflect on your own views and how group dynamics may influence them.
• Emotional Regulation : Stay true to your convictions while respecting others’ opinions.

Example: Lack of Diverse Perspectives \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Example : During a classroom discussion on environmental policies, most students support a particular policy. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, you invite a guest speaker with a different viewpoint to present their case. This exposure to diverse perspectives enriches the discussion and broadens everyone's understanding.

Lack of Diverse Perspectives:

• Definition : Groupthink can result in a lack of diverse viewpoints, which is detrimental to critical analysis. Effective critical thinking requires considering a wide range of perspectives and challenging dominant narratives.
• Active Engagement : Actively seek out and include diverse perspectives in discussions and decision-making.
• Seeking Diverse Perspectives : Engage with people from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Reflective Thinking : Reflect on the value of diverse viewpoints and how they can enhance your understanding.
• Emotional Regulation : Manage any discomfort with differing opinions and remain open-minded.

Recognizing and overcoming these barriers is crucial for effective critical thinking. By actively engaging with material, seeking diverse perspectives, practicing reflective thinking, and regulating emotions, community college students can enhance their critical thinking skills and navigate academic and real-world challenges more effectively.

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The above section was remixed from the following Open Educational Resources:

• Introductory Composition, Basic Reading and Writing by Lumen, Module 1: Success Skills, Section 1.3 Critical Thinking by Lumen Learning, under CC BY NC SA .
• 1.3: Critical Thinking is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lumen Learning .
• 1.2: Week 2 - Creative and Critical Thinking is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Andrew Gurevich ( MHCC Library Press )
• 1.3: Critical thinking is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Melissa Ashman ( KPUOpen ) .
• 1.3: Glance at Critical Response- Rhetoric and Critical Thinking is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

7 Critical Thinking Barriers and How to Overcome Them

It's important to develop critical thinking skills for more than just academic reasons. Substantial critical thinking capacity serves us well in all aspects of our lives. It encompasses problem-solving, decision-making, personal responsibility, and managing relationships of every kind effectively, just to name a few things. There's no doubt it's one of the most crucial mindsets our learners could ever have, for learning and life.

By using real-world examples, teachers can explore concepts that help learners think more critically. However, teachers must recognize the barriers and challenges accompanied by teaching critical thinking skills.

Most importantly, we must discover how to get around these barriers. This article will explore seven common critical thinking barriers and how to effectively circumvent them.

In our view, the 7 most common and harmful critical thinking barriers to actively overcome are:

Egocentric Thinking

Drone Mentality

Social Conditioning

Biased Experiences

Schedule Pressures

Arrogance and Intolerance

1. Egocentric Thinking

Although egocentric behaviors are less prominent in adulthood, overcoming egocentrism can be a lifelong process. Egocentric thinking is a natural tendency to view everything in relation to oneself. This type of thinking leads to the inability to sympathize with others or analyze and evaluate various perspectives. Sadly, since most egocentric people are not willing or cannot see this character flaw within themselves, this increases the difficulty in overcoming the barrier.

As young learners contemplate who they are and where they fit in, egocentric thinking may become more apparent. After all, they need experiences, opportunities for debate, brainstorming sessions, and the chance to ask meaningful questions in order to recognize and understand the viewpoints of others.

Creating a classroom that encourages critical thinking can help learners lose egocentrism. Especially during social conflicts, teachers can help learners think more abstractly by pointing out the opinions and attitudes of others. Teachers will do well to encourage empathy as their learners ponder other people's perspectives, opinions, and thoughts.

2. Groupthink

Groupthink can lead to unhealthy decision-making patterns. Like egocentric thinking, it is difficult to overcome. Breaking the cycle requires individuals to stand apart from the group and question opinions, thoughts, and popular ideas. This can be especially difficult for adolescents, but teachers can play a key role in encouraging independent thought and action in students.

Facilitating student learning in a classroom while avoiding a groupthink teaching style is possible by expanding teaching methods that help learners think creatively. This allows them to make connections and challenge reasoning, both of which are important for critical thinking.

“ Creating a classroom that encourages critical thinking can help learners lose egocentrism—teachers can help learners think more abstractly by pointing out the opinions and attitudes of others. ”

Our learners benefit from direct training in decision-making to prepare them to solve complex problems. Expecting them to make decisions by trial and error is simply not enough. Instruction in how to debate and present constructive arguments can develop critical thinking skills. As learners become familiar and repeat this thinking capability, they are more likely to think, question, and analyze. As a result, this reduces the likelihood of them developing a groupthink perspective.

3. Drone Mentality

If you have a drone mentality, this means you don’t pay attention to what is going on around you. A drone mentality can sneak up on anyone at any time. Daily routines often lead to a drone mentality and can prevent or cause a loss of critical thinking skills.

This mentality is dangerous in a classroom because learners forget how to respond to new circumstances. It also causes them to shy away from challenges for the sake of ease and convenience.

Teachers should avoid the temptation of slipping into patterns that can lead to a drone mentality effect in the classroom. By constantly finding connections to new things and fields, their teaching methods can stay fresh and interesting while fostering an environment for critical thinking.

4. Social Conditioning

Unwanted assumptions and stereotyping leads to social conditioning. It does this by blinding us from the realization that we are even making assumptions and stereotyping in the first place. The ability to think outside of the spectrum is a great asset because most learners do not realize they are being conditioned to think a certain way.

Teachers can help their learners assess their own thinking by helping them take inventory of their thoughts and beliefs. It’s also important to teach clarity, accuracy and fair-mindedness in their thinking patterns.

5. Biased Experiences

Personal biases can prohibit critical thinking because they prevent the thinker from being fair, inquisitive and open-minded. This kind of thinking can also prevent an individual from using experience, reasoning and common sense to make informed decisions.

Teachers should encourage learners to lean on logic to become critical thinkers. This challenges them to evaluate the clarity and accuracy of their thinking. By giving assignments that utilize questioning techniques and critical thinking responses, teachers can effectively guide them through the critical thinking process.

“ By constantly finding connections to new things and fields, teaching methods can stay fresh and interesting while fostering an environment for critical thinking. ”

6. Schedule Pressures

Time constraints often serve as a barrier to integrating learning opportunities that support critical thinking skills. Test scores and mandated teaching measures often result in teachers covering a great deal of content in a short amount of time.

With training, practice and patience, teachers can learn various strategies that equip them to naturally model thinking behaviors in the classroom that improve learners' critical thinking skills.

It is especially important that teachers do their best to create a learning schedule that is not hindered by time constraints. Critical thinking lessons should always be a top priority.

7. Arrogance and Intolerance

True critical thinkers do not welcome arrogance and intolerance into their minds. It is nearly impossible to find the best solution to a problem with a close-minded mindset. Without critical thinking skills, individuals often react thoughtlessly and recklessly to situations. What they should do, however, is assess and take responsibility for their choices while accepting the rewards or consequences that follow those choices.

Arrogance and intolerance block creativity and leaves no room for other suggestions for problem-solving. If learners believe no better solution to a problem exists, a teacher must have students question their logic. Encourage them to ask the following questions:

What are my thoughts on this topic?

Why do I think like this?

Where did I learn this information?

What does the information imply?

Should I view it differently?

Breaking Down Barriers

There are multiple ways to get around critical thinking barriers. One way is to have learners choose a topic of choice and write a paper demonstrating a variety of approaches to solve a problem on the chosen topic. Teachers can use real-life situations, such as car buying, as examples when strengthening critical thinking skills. You can have learners discuss the steps in buying a car and how to make the best decision based on a variety of factors, such as income, down payment options, car insurance prices, etc.

Another way to teach critical thinking skills is to highlight how a bad decision can lead to a poor outcome. The goal is to illustrate that making mistakes and suffering consequences are natural parts of decision-making. More importantly, that problem solving is a powerful skill that will impact almost every aspect of each student’s future.

Teachers are key in influencing student’s behavior as well as the use of critical thinking skills. These skills can make a positive difference in the achievement level in both the classroom and throughout a student’s life.

Author and keynote speaker, Lee works with governments, education systems, international agencies and corporations to help people and organisations connect to their higher purpose. Lee lives in Japan where he studies Zen and the Shakuhachi.

10 Great Critical Thinking Activities That Engage Your Learners

13 powerful reasons to let learners own their learning.

• Productivity
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Break through these 5 common critical thinking barriers

Can you think of the last time you made a decision? It was probably about one second ago, even though you may not have realized it.

Our days are filled with choices, from pressing the snooze button on the morning alarm to selecting what to eat for dinner. On average, adults make around 35,000 decisions a day . If you average 16 hours of waking time, that's almost 36 decisions per minute.

Most decisions are entirely unconscious, like whether or not to scratch an itch or having a knee-jerk reaction to the expression on your significant other's face. Others, though, require a more careful and critical examination.

Critical thinking is one of the most valuable skills we can possess in our personal and professional lives. It allows us to analyze information, make sound decisions, and solve problems. However, many people find it difficult to think critically.

This article will discuss what critical thinking is, why it's important, and how you can overcome common critical thinking barriers.

What is critical thinking?

The origin of critical thinking can be traced back thousands of years to the teaching practice of the Greek philosopher Socrates. After discovering that many people couldn't explain the truth of their statements, he encouraged people to ask questions that go deep into their thoughts before accepting them.

Socrates used open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and uncover assumptions, a process that bears his name today — Socratic Questioning. It’s grounded in the belief that thoughtful questioning allows the student to examine ideas logically and determine their validity.

Socrates' method of questioning set the stage for thoughtful reflection. Today, the Foundation for Critical Thinking defines critical thinking as "the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking to improve it." Unlike automatic or subconscious thought, thinking critically requires you to actively use intellectual tools to reach conclusions rather than relying on subconscious processes. This strengthens decision-making skills.

Critical thinking consists of two components:

• A set of skills used to process information and beliefs
• The act of consciously applying those skills as a guide for behavior

Each of these components is equally important during the critical thinking process.

What is the critical thinking process?

Critical thinkers evaluate evidence and analyze information before making a judgment. The process requires higher-order thinking skills such as sorting, analyzing, comparing data, and assessing logic and reason.

The critical thinking process consists of five primary elements :

• Identify the claims. Organize arguments into basic statements and conclusions.
• Clarify the arguments. Look for inconsistencies and ambiguities in statements.
• Establish the facts. Verify whether the claims are reasonable, identify missing or omitted information, apply logic, and check for possible contradictions.
• Evaluate the logic. Analyze whether the assumptions align with the conclusions.
• Make the decision. Evaluate the argument using evidence, logic, and supporting data to increase the weight, contradictions, poor reasoning, or lack of evidence to decrease the weight.

Finding accuracy in ideas and challenging assumptions are essential parts of this process. Observing these two steps closely enables critical thinkers to form their own conclusions.

Why is it important to think critically?

Success in both business and life depends on the ability to think critically.

Human nature doesn't permit us to be completely objective. Instead, we each have our own viewpoints, close-mindedness, and social conditioning that influence our objective thinking capability. Everyone experiences distorted thinking and cognitive biases, leading to irrational thought processes. Critical thinking ability is necessary to overcome the limitations of irrational thinking.

Thinking critically is beneficial because it:

• Promotes problem solving and innovation
• Boosts creativity and curiosity
• Encourages deeper self-reflection, self-assertion, and independence
• Improves career opportunities
• Builds objectivity and open-mindedness

Critical thinking isn't about reaching the "right" answer — it's about challenging the information you're given to make your own conclusions. When you can question details and think for yourself, you're less likely to be swayed by false claims, misleading arguments, and emotional manipulation.

5 common critical thinking barriers and how to break through them

The ability to think critically is essential to our personal and professional development. To become excellent critical thinkers, we must embrace a growth mindset — the idea that we can cultivate intelligence through learning and practice. This includes stepping out of our comfort zone to push our thinking patterns and checking in to correct ourselves as needed.

Very few of us can think critically without hitting a couple of roadblocks. These critical thinking barriers can come in many forms, including unwarranted assumptions, personal biases, egocentric thinking, and emotions that inhibit us from thinking clearly. By becoming aware of these common challenges and making a conscious effort to counter them, we can improve our critical thinking skills and learn to make better decisions.

Here are five of the most commonly encountered critical thinking barriers, how to spot them, and what you can do to overcome them.

1. Confirmation bias

What it is: Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to see new information as an affirmation of our existing beliefs and opinions. People with this bias disregard opposing points of view in favor of evidence that supports their position.

Why it occurs: Confirmation bias results from our emotional inclination to see the world from our perspective. Having quick reflexes keeps us safe, so we interpret information from our own perspective because it enables us to react instinctively . Another explanation is that our minds struggle with the parallel processing of two opposing arguments, so we only process the one we already believe because it’s easier.

How to overcome it: Confirmation bias may be the hardest bias to defeat . It’s difficult to not hold preconceived notions, but you can train your mind to think differently. Make an effort to be open-minded and look at situations from an alternative perspective. When we're aware of our own confirmation biases and diligently watch out for them, we can avoid favoring specific facts when evaluating arguments.

2. Self-serving bias

What it is : The self-serving bias concerns how we place attribution for results. An individual with this bias externalizes blame for any undesirable results, yet takes credit for success.

Why it occurs: Researchers have found that people with a self-serving bias make attributions based on their need to maintain a high level of self-esteem . Our minds fear losing confidence if we take responsibility for failure or negative outcomes.

How to overcome it: You can counteract self-serving bias by maintaining a growth mindset. To have a growth mindset, you must be able to admit your errors, examine personal biases, and learn to take criticism. To overcome a self-serving bias, practice self-compassion. Accepting your imperfections and being kind to yourself when you fall short of your goals can help you maintain confidence.

3. Normalcy bias

What it is: The normalcy bias arises from our instinctual need for safety. Using this bias, we tend to overlook new information and common sense so that nothing changes and we can continue to live our lives as usual.

Why it occurs: The normalcy bias is a protection mechanism, a form of denial. Usually active when facing a traumatic event, this bias shuts down the mind to protect us from things that are too painful or confusing to comprehend.

How to overcome it: Although it is the brain's attempt to protect us, the normalcy bias can be harmful — and even dangerous — if it keeps us from facing reality. The best way to overcome it is to face facts and truth head-on, no matter how difficult it may be.

4. Availability heuristic

What it is: The availability heuristic occurs when we rely on the first piece of information that comes to mind without weighing other possibilities, even when it may not be the best option. We assume that information that is more readily accessible is more likely to be true.

Why it occurs: This heuristic stems from the brain’s use of shortcuts to be efficient. It can be used in a wide variety of real-life situations to facilitate fast and accurate estimation.

How to overcome it: Some real-world scenarios (like probability estimations) can benefit from the availability bias, so it's neither possible nor advisable to eliminate it entirely. In the event of uncertainty, however, we must be aware of all relevant data when making judgments, not just that which comes readily to mind.

5. Sunk cost fallacy

What it is: The sunk cost fallacy arises from the instinctual need for commitment. We fall victim to this illusion when we continue doing something even if it's irrational, simply because we’ve already invested resources that we can’t get back.

Why it occurs: The sunk cost fallacy occurs when we’re affected by feelings of loss, guilt, or regret. These innate feelings are hard to overcome — research has found that even rats and mice struggle with sunk costs when pursuing a reward. Because of this tendency, when we feel like we've already put considerable effort into organizing our information and pursuing a result, we tell ourselves that we can’t waste it by changing course.

How to overcome it: Instead of dwelling on past commitments, pay attention to the present and future. Thinking with logical reasoning, in terms of concrete actions instead of feelings, is vital.

Be ABLE to think critically despite barriers

Thinking critically is an essential skill for self-learners . Making sound decisions starts with recognizing our critical thinking barriers. Practicing self-compassion and self-awareness are excellent ways to identify biases in your thinking. From there, you can begin working toward overcoming those obstacles. When you have no critical thinking barriers in your way, you can develop and strengthen the skills that will help you succeed.

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How to Identify and Remove Barriers to Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning

Even a few simple techniques for logical decision making and persuasion can vastly improve your skills as a leader. Explore how critical thinking can help you evaluate complex business problems, reduce bias, and devise effective solutions.

Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is a central business skill, and yet it's the one many people struggle with most. This course will show you how to apply critical thinking techniques to common business examples, avoid misunderstandings, and get at the root of any problem.

Contrary to popular belief, being intelligent or logical does not automatically make you a critical thinker.

People with high IQs are still prone to biases, complacency, overconfidence, and stereotyping that affect the quality of their thoughts and performance at work. But people who scored high in critical thinking —a reflection of sound analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities—report having fewer negative experiences in and out of the office.

Top 5 Barriers to Critical Thinking

To learn how to think critically, you’ll need to identify and understand what prevents people from doing so in the first place. Catching yourself (and others) engaging in these critical thinking no-no’s can help prevent costly mistakes and improve your quality of life.

Here are five of the most common barriers to critical thinking.

Egocentric Thinking

Egoism, or viewing everything in relation to yourself, is a natural human tendency and a common barrier to critical thinking. It often leads to an inability to question one’s own beliefs, sympathize with others, or consider different perspectives.

Egocentricity is an inherent character flaw. Understand that, and you’ll gain the open-minded point of view required to assess situations outside your own lens of understanding.

Groupthink and Social Conditioning

Everyone wants to feel like they belong. It’s a basic survival instinct and psychological mechanism that ensures the survival of our species. Historically, humans banded together to survive in the wild against predators and each other. That desire to “fit in” persists today as groupthink, or the tendency to agree with the majority and suppress independent thoughts and actions.

Groupthink is a serious threat to diversity in that it supports social conditioning, or the idea that we should all adhere to a particular society or culture’s most “acceptable” behavior.

Overcoming groupthink and cultural conditioning requires the courage to break free from the crowd. It’s the only way to question popular thought, culturally embedded values, and belief systems in a detached and objective manner.

Next Article

5 of the Best Books on Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Drone Mentality and Cognitive Fatigue

Turning on “autopilot” and going through the motions can lead to a lack of spatial awareness. This is known as drone mentality, and it’s not only detrimental to you, but those around you, as well.

Studies show that monotony and boredom are bad for mental health . Cognitive fatigue caused by long-term mental activity without appropriate stimulation, like an unchanging daily routine full of repetitive tasks, negatively impairs cognitive functioning and critical thinking .

Although you may be tempted to flip on autopilot when things get monotonous, as a critical thinker you need to challenge yourself to make new connections and find fresh ideas. Adopt different schools of thought. Keep both your learning and teaching methods exciting and innovative, and that will foster an environment of critical thinking.

The Logic Tree: The Ultimate Critical Thinking Framework

Personal Biases and Preferences

Everyone internalizes certain beliefs, opinions, and attitudes that manifest as personal biases. You may feel that you’re open minded, but these subconscious judgements are more common than most people realize. They can distort your thinking patterns and sway your decision making in the following ways:

• Confirmation bias: favoring information that reinforces your existing viewpoints and beliefs
• Anchoring bias: being overly influenced by the first piece of information you come across
• False consensus effect: believing that most people share your perspective
• Normalcy bias: assuming that things will stay the same despite significant changes to the status quo

The critical thinking process requires being aware of personal biases that affect your ability to rationally analyze a situation and make sound decisions.

Allostatic Overload

Research shows that persistent stress causes a phenomenon known as allostatic overload . It’s serious business, affecting your attention span, memory, mood, and even physical health.

When under pressure, your brain is forced to channel energy into the section responsible for processing necessary information at the expense of taking a rest. That’s why people experience memory lapses in fight-or-flight situations. Prolonged stress also reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that handles executive tasks.

Avoiding cognitive impairments under pressure begins by remaining as calm and objective as possible. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and slow your thoughts. Assume the role of a third-party observer. Analyze and evaluate what can be controlled instead of what can’t.

Train Your Mind Using the 9 Intellectual Standards

The bad news is that barriers to critical thinking can really sneak up on you and be difficult to overcome. But the good news is that anyone can learn to think critically with practice.

Unlike raw intelligence, which is largely determined by genetics , critical thinking can be mastered using nine teachable standards of thought:

• Clarity: Is the information or task at hand easy to understand and free from obscurities?
• Precision: Is it specific and detailed?
• Accuracy: Is it correct, free from errors and distortions?
• Relevance: Is it directly related to the matter at hand?
• Depth: Does it consider all other variables, contexts, and situations?
• Breadth: Is it comprehensive, and does it encompass other perspectives?
• Logical: Does it contradict itself?
• Significance: Is it important in the first place?
• Fairness: Is it free from bias, deception, and self-interest?

When evaluating any task, situation, or piece of information, consider these intellectual standards to hone your critical thinking skills in a structured, practiced way. Keep it up, and eventually critical thinking will become second nature.

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Five Barriers to Critical Thinking

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5 Barriers to Critical Thinking (and how to challenge them!)

October 18, 2020, 15:34 , 15:34

Critical thinking is a valuable work and life skill. However, some key barriers can affect our ability to think critically – here’s five key areas to be aware of and how to challenge them.

Critical thinking is a valuable and transferable workplace skill for the 21st Century – but developing this skill is a life-long journey. Although critical thinking is a cognitive ability it is linked to behaviour; by changing and modifying this we can develop elements of how we evaluate information and make decisions. But there can be some key barriers which affect our ability to think critically – here’s five key areas to be aware of and how to challenge them.

1. Misunderstanding – There is often some confusion or curiosity about what critical thinking involves – such as the assumption that critical thinking is about being negative rather than making informed decisions. Misunderstandings may arise due to a lack of information about processes, differences in approach and ideas.

• Remember when asked to think critically you need to look at a situation logically, from multiple perspectives; while separating facts from opinions, prejudices, intuition and assumptions!

2. Unwillingness to critique/ be objective – Critical thinking ability requires individuals to challenge and question how they think about a problem, project or innovation; there is a need to move beyond what you may be comfortable with.

• Be brave. Stop the process if needed, or pass the idea between teams for review. In order to train yourself to think critically you need to have the desire, motivation and willpower to improve it.

3. Insufficient knowledge – Good critical thinkers do not need to change their values, but they should be prepared to consider and evaluate issues objectively.

• Read around the subject. Be prepared to question where your data comes from. Is it reliable and trustworthy? Fact check!

4. Unnecessary assumptions – Assumptions are thoughts that are accepted as true without any proof. The problem with assumptions is that:

• They are often illogical. They may not be supported by hard facts or data.
• They may be based on previous, often very limited, experience, ignorance or confirm our biases and stereotypes about a race, gender or groups of people. 
• Check your assumptions regularly and be prepared to make changes based on the information that comes to light.

5. Personal bias and emotions – Common barriers include confirmation bias (where we seek only information to support our views) or allowing emotions to get in the way of objective evaluation.

• Check your emotions and question your ideas. Would the outcome to your problem be different if you put your emotions to one side?

Remember “No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” Voltaire

Next Steps: Visit our Critical thinking hub to see other ways to develop your critical thinking!

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What is critical thinking (a definition).

• “purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or conceptual considerations upon which that judgment is based” (Facione, 1990, p. 3).
• “skillful, responsible thinking that facilitates good judgment because it 1) relies upon criteria, 2) is self-correcting, and 3) is sensitive to context” (Lipman, 1988, p. 39);
• “seeing both sides of an issue, being open to new evidence that disconfirms your ideas, reasoning dispassionately, demanding that claims be backed by evidence, deducing and inferring conclusions from available facts, solving problems , and so forth” (Willingham, 2007, p. 8). ​​

Consciousness Examples

• Hallucinations
• Transcendent spiritual experiences

Video: What is Critical Thinking?

Why Critical Thinking Is Important

Critical Thinking Benefits

• Improved creativity
• More job success
• Better financial management
• Reduced probability of imprisonment
• Greater self-knowledge
• Improved quality of relationships

Barriers to Critical Thinking

How to think critically.

• Can you confirm the “facts” presented with multiple other sources?
• What level of expertise does the person presenting the argument have with the subject matter?
• Are there other explanations that are simpler or more likely to be true?
• Does the argument logically follow from the premise?
• Is there quantifiable evidence in support of the argument?
• Could the argument be proven false?

Critical Thinking Examples

• You’re scrolling through Instagram and see an ad for a serum that is “guaranteed” to make you’re your eyelashes 10x longer and thicker. Before deciding to purchase the product, you first look up the serum ingredients to determine whether there are any studies that support the claim in the ad.
• The governor of your state says that a particular virus is not dangerous or readily transmissible. Recognizing that the governor does not have any background in biology or virology, you decide to compare this declaration with what experts in the field have to say to see if the governor’s opinion aligns with the current consensus among scientists.
• You and your roommate hear a strange noise in the house. Your roommate speculates that the source of the noise was a poltergeist. You offer alternative hypotheses and the two of you discuss the plausibility of each hypothesis to identify which hypothesis is most likely to be true.

Critical Thinking Skills

• Interpretation – understanding the significance of a wide variety of experiences
• Analysis – examining ideas to identify the reasons and claims of an argument
• Explanation – presenting your reasoned argument including the evidence supporting it
• Evaluation – Assessing the credibility of claims and the quality of arguments made
• Inference – Formulating alternative hypotheses and drawing logically valid conclusions
• Self-regulation – Monitoring yourself and updating your viewpoint in accordance with the evidence

Critical Thinking Exercises

Video: 5 tips to improve your critical thinking.

Video: Encourage Critical Thinking with 3 Questions

Quotes on Critical Thinking

• “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle
• “Critical thinking requires us to use our imagination , seeing things from perspectives other than our own and envisioning the likely consequences of our position.” – Bell Hooks
• “The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder’s lack of rational conviction.” – Bertrand Russell
• “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” – Voltaire
• “Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for critical thinking.” – Leo Tolstoy
• “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” – William James
• “Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense.” – Carl Sagan
• “It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to care how you got your money as long as you have got it.” – Edmond Way Teale
• “… For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride, lest his mind should seem to be occupied with things mean and transitory; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections colour and infect the understanding.” – Sir Francis Bacon ​

Articles Related to Critical Thinking

• Life Skills: Definition, Examples, & Skills to Build
• Transferable Skills: Definition, Examples & List
• Introspection: Definition (in Psychology), Examples, and Questions​
• ​​​ Habits (Good & Bad): Definition, Books & Tips

Books Related to Critical Thinking​

• Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life ​
• The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
• Critical Thinking Beginner's Guide: Learn How Reasoning by Logic Improves Effective Problem Solving. The Tools to Think Smarter, Level up Intuition to Reach Your Potential and Grow Your Mindfulness
• Critical Thinking (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)
• Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies
• Critical Thinking Activities for Kids: Fun and Challenging Games to Boost Brain Power

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking

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• Arias, P., Bellouin, N., Coppola, E., Jones, R., Krinner, G., Marotzke, J., ... & Zickfeld, K. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis . Contribution of Working Group14 I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Technical Summary.
• Facione, P. A. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction . Millbrae, CA: The California Academic Press.
• Facione, P. A. (2011). Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts . Insight assessment, 2007(1), 1-23.
• Gilovich, T. (1991). How we know what isn't so . (1 st ed.). Simon and Schuster.
• Lai, E. R. (2011). Critical thinking: A literature review . Pearson's Research Reports, 6(1), 40-41.
• Lipman, M. (1988). Critical thinking—What can it be? Educational Leadership, 46(1), 38–43.
• Wallace, E. D., & Jefferson, R. N. (2015). Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Assessing the Effectiveness of Workbook Exercises . Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 12(2), 101-108.
• Willingham, D. T. (2007). Critical thinking: Why is it so hard to teach? American Educator, 8–19. ​
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10 Barriers to Critical Thinking & Tips to Overcome Them

Critical thinking is an essential life skill, especially in an age where deceptions like “my truth” and “your truth” run rampant. 

It allows us to think our way through issues and arrive at effective solutions, and it is a skill that deserves the dedication it takes to hone it.

In some cases, there are invisible barriers to critical thinking that must first be broken down before progress can be made. 

Because it is so vitally important for our teens to develop such skills—to think for themselves in a world pressuring them to tow the line—I think it’s worth addressing potential obstacles in their way. 

Here are 10 common barriers to critical thinking that may reveal themselves as you seek to teach this vital skill. 

1. Lack of Practice

Considering what causes a lack of critical thinking , the word “practice” comes to mind. 

The phrase “practice makes progress” rings true when developing critical thinking skills .

Critical thinking may be discussed at length and encouraged theoretically, but is it expressed in the assignments or exercises our teens do on a daily basis?

Sadly, many assignments simply ask for regurgitated facts from a textbook that require little to no real thinking. 

If we want to see our students thrive in the realm of critical thinking, we need to provide them with opportunities to practice and apply what they’ve learned in real-life situations.

2. Perceived Inability to Teach It

The idea that you’re not capable of teaching such a thing may just become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

If you believe you can’t teach critical thinking, you may not even try. If you do try, you may be plagued by self-doubt that shakes your confidence. 

If you’ve ever thought …

“Why is critical thinking so difficult?”

You’re not alone.

It can be hard to plainly identify what critical thinking is and how to teach it. That’s one of the main reasons we created Philosophy Adventure —to provide an intriguing way to teach critical thinking effectively.

Get a Question-Based Critical Thinking Exercise—Free!

Introduce critical thinking gently & easily with thought-provoking exercises.

3. Normalcy Bias

Normalcy bias is a subconscious response that falsely assures things will remain the same as they always were. 

Every type of bias works against critical thinking as it uses emotion to make decisions rather than rational thought rooted in truth.

This bias encourages our minds to ignore danger and new information in favor of maintaining the safety and security of our “regular” lives. 

For example, normalcy bias leads us to believe that freedom will always be free despite growing threats to quench it. 

Frankly, it’s a dangerous barrier to critical thinking with the potential for lasting consequences.

4. Group-Think

The group-think effect is a phenomenon where individuals conform to the beliefs of others in order to avoid appearing different. 

It can lead to mass conformity in which society grows blind to flaws in opinion-based reasoning. 

Why think for yourself when someone else can do it for you? It’s a sobering thought—and a major obstacle to critical thinking—but I fear it’s one that is sweeping the world.

This is an especially tough barrier for teenagers who are often desperate to be accepted and liked by their peers. 

Rather than relying on critical thinking to decipher between right and wrong, they may cave to peer pressure because “everyone else is doing it.”

This barrier is yet another poignant example of why it’s so important to help our children develop critical thinking skills.  

5. Distorted View of Truth

We’re also susceptible to having a distorted view of what is fact and what isn’t. If we’re not careful, our view of truth can be distorted by misleading opinions.

Passionate people with deeply held beliefs are often willing to loudly defend them. 

Such passion and charisma can seduce teens and adults alike who may not fully know what they believe— or why they believe it . 

Of all the psychological obstacles to critical thinking, fear is a weighty one. 

I humbly suggest that it is the fear of failure or the fear of change that is most likely to act as a hindrance to critical thinking. 

Sometimes, when we look at an issue from every angle, we find that the only right reaction is to change. 

Likewise, if we fear failure, we’re likely to not act or try at all. 

And when it comes to trying to discern the truth in order to act upon it, not doing so can be far worse than the perceived failure itself. 

7. Viewing Everything Through the Lens of “Self”

Some people call it “egocentric thinking.” Whatever the name, it is the tendency to think about the world only as it relates to us. 

This self-centered thinking is natural, but there’s great value in training our minds to be able to view issues from another’s point of view. When problem-solving, it’s important to consider other perspectives.

This is particularly true when dealing with people who may be affected by our actions.

8. Past Experiences

Past experiences, relationships, even trauma can change us in a number of ways. 

What happened in the past surrounding any given thing most certainly influences how we think and feel about that thing in the future. 

But it’s important to recognize past experiences for what they are—a single moment (or period) of time.

They should not define our thoughts, nor should they dictate our actions as we seek to answer life’s questions objectively.  

Undoubtedly, it can be difficult to put such things in perspective so, and it calls for self-control, but it’s important to train our teens to try.  

Relying exclusively on the past to make decisions today can lead to negative outcomes as it relies on information that may not be true. 

9. Assumptions

Assumptions dampen our ability to learn. Though often flawed, assumptions quench our desire  to ask questions because we think we already know the answers. 

What a sad state to be stuck in because the truth is …

We don’t know what we don’t know.

How can we learn what we don’t know if we never root out the truth in a given matter?

Similarly, some people assume that because they don’t understand something, then it must be impossible to learn. 

That’s simply not true. We have an innate ability to learn new things, and critical thinking helps us do just that—with integrity.  

10. Time Constraints

There’s so much to learn in school that it can be hard to find the time to invest in critical thinking discussion and activities . 

This skill can often be moved to the side while teens learn about world history and how to write a proper essay—both of which are no doubt important. 

But I would argue that critical thinking gives students the foundation to not only better digest the material learned but to excel in it. 

How to Overcome Common Barriers to Critical Thinking 

We’ve established that critical thinking is an essential part of becoming a discerning adult, unmoved by news biases or passionate, emotional language. 

That being said, how do we break through the barriers that hinder critical thinking and move forward to teach such a significant skill?

You can help your students better develop their critical thinking skills by encouraging thoughtful questions and debate. 

When consuming news from around the world, inspire them to challenge their initial emotional reactions to the information presented. Teach them how to seek impartial data and use that to form an educated opinion. 

Providing real-world examples and connections between topics is a great way to encourage teens to think more deeply about a subject. 

Rather than presenting multiple choice answers or fill-in-the-blanks, ask them to talk through the question out loud based on the information they’ve been given.  

You can also try a fun exercise with these critical thinking questions for kids .

The ability to clearly vocalize beliefs and express thoughts is a priceless skill, and one that we have weaved into every lesson of Philosophy Adventure :

will your children recognize truth?

Critical thinking is a learned skill that requires practice (and breaking down barriers when they arise). 

However, the ability to identify logical fallacies in arguments and recognize deception is well worth investing in. 

Recognizing potential barriers that are obstructing that end goal is a solid first step. 

About The Author

Stacy Farrell

Barriers to Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is essential for making informed decisions and solving problems effectively. However, several barriers can impede our ability to think critically.

Barriers to critical thinking include cognitive biases and emotional reasoning, hindering objective analysis and problem-solving. Overreliance on tradition and social conditioning can also impede open-mindedness and rational inquiry.

They can be sneaky, like when we only listen to ideas that we already like or when we’re too scared to try new things because we might make mistakes. Sometimes, we might find ourselves just going along with what everyone else thinks, even if, deep down, we’re not sure it’s right. It’s like trying to see through a foggy window – we know there’s more out there, but it’s hard to see clearly.

• 1.1 Egocentrism
• 1.2 Sociocentrism
• 1.3 Confirmation Bias
• 1.4 Emotional Barriers
• 1.5 Lack of Knowledge 
• 2 Practical Tips:
• 3.1 Developing Awareness and Mindfulness
• 3.2 Embracing Uncertainty and Change
• 3.3 Enhancing Information Analysis Skills
• 3.4 Fostering an Environment of Openness and Diversity
• 4.1 In Personal and Professional Life
• 4.2 Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
• 4.3 Strategic Thinking and Planning
• 5.0.0.1 Boko Ducky

5 Barriers to Critical Thinking

Despite its importance, several barriers can hinder individuals from thinking critically. Here are five significant barriers to critical thinking:

Egocentrism

Egocentrism involves seeing everything in relation to oneself, which can hinder objective analysis. For example, prioritizing personal opinions over factual evidence can lead to biased conclusions.

Sociocentrism

Sociocentrism is the tendency to prioritize the norms and beliefs of one’s group over broader perspectives. This can lead to groupthink, where conformity overrides critical evaluation.

Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms preexisting beliefs and disregard contrary evidence. This can skew decision-making and hinder open-minded analysis.

Emotional Barriers

Strong emotions like fear, anger, or frustration can cloud judgment. For instance, making decisions based on emotional reactions rather than logical reasoning can lead to poor outcomes.

Lack of Knowledge 

A lack of relevant knowledge and information literacy can impede critical thinking. Without a solid knowledge base, it’s challenging to assess the validity of arguments or evidence.

Personal Anecdote

Consider John, who initially struggled with confirmation bias in his research. By actively seeking out and considering opposing viewpoints, John improved his ability to think critically and make well-informed decisions.

Expert Insights

Dr. Emily Johnson, a cognitive psychologist, states, “Recognizing and addressing our biases is crucial for developing strong critical thinking skills.”

Practical Tips:

• Develop Awareness: Be aware of biases and how they influence thinking.
• Seek Diverse Perspectives: Consider multiple viewpoints to avoid groupthink.
• Embrace Uncertainty: Accept that not all answers are straightforward.
• Enhance Information Literacy: Learn to evaluate and use information effectively.

Overcoming Barriers to Critical Thinking

Developing awareness and mindfulness.

The first step to overcoming barriers to critical thinking is to develop an awareness of these barriers. Paying attention to what’s influencing our thought processes allows us to recognize and address our biases and fears.

Embracing Uncertainty and Change

Embracing uncertainty and change is crucial in overcoming fear of failure and normalcy bias. This involves accepting that we don’t always know the answers and being open to new ways of seeing and doing things.

Enhancing Information Analysis Skills

Good critical thinking requires the ability to analyse and evaluate information effectively. This involves taking the time to analyse facts and data, considering the advantages and disadvantages of different perspectives, and developing a solution based on sound reasoning.

Fostering an Environment of Openness and Diversity

Creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions is vital for overcoming groupthink. This encourages diversity of thought and promotes strategic thinking, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.

Applying Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

In personal and professional life.

Critical thinking is not just a professional skill but also a valuable tool in our personal lives. By using critical thinking in our personal and professional lives, we can make better decisions, solve problems more effectively, and improve our overall growth and development.

Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

The ability to think critically is fundamental in the decision-making process. It helps us evaluate the situation, consider different perspectives, and choose the most effective way to solve a problem.

Strategic Thinking and Planning

Strategic thinking, a soft skill closely related to critical thinking, involves planning for the future by considering various scenarios and outcomes. This type of thinking is essential for long-term success and sustainability in both personal and professional realms.

Conclusion: The Path to Better Thinking

Overcoming barriers to critical thinking may seem difficult, but it is an achievable goal. By being aware of the barriers, actively working to mitigate their effects, and continuously practicing and applying critical thinking strategies, we can enhance our thinking abilities.

This not only leads to better decision-making and problem-solving but also contributes significantly to the development of a person’s character and life. Let’s strive to overcome these barriers and harness the full power of critical thinking for our personal and professional success.  

References:

• Johnson, E. (2021). Understanding Cognitive Biases . Cognitive Psychology Journal.
• Lee, M. (2020). Critical Thinking in Decision-Making . Harvard Business Review.

Boko Ducky has over 10 years of experience in helping individuals and organizations improve their communication skills.

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• Gender Barriers to Communication
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• Organizational Barriers to Communication

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7 barriers to critical thinking and how to overcome?

Critical thinking is a skill that lets one understand and evaluate an issue or situation logically. All available facts and information related or likely to be related to the issue are analyzed. It involves sorting, organizing, and analyzing facts and information to define a problem and then find an effective solution. It is a mindset that is crucial for the desired development of our personal and professional life. In this article, we will discuss critical thinking and process, barriers of critical thinking, and how to overcome it.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the quality of Thinking clearly and thoroughly. It’s a Careful application of reason to explain an issue. It is the ability to define and analyze facts to understand a problem deeply. It often involves a few steps that start from identifying and characterizing a problem and continues through analysis, interpretation, and ends up with developing a solution.�

A critical thinker questions any idea or assumption rather than accepting it blindly. They approach the problem consistently and systematically rather than by intuition. Identify, make, and evaluate arguments and use the facts, arguments, and findings to build the real picture.

Examples of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking can be applied in every sphere of our life. Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, Politicians, and business Professionals always using the Critical thinking approach. Few examples of Critical thinking are given bellow.

Evaluating news

Today we are confronting with plenty of news and events every day. We are getting information from various media e.g., newspapers, radio, television, and online media like the internet and social media. With the blessing of these media, it has become effortless to get information from anywhere anytime today.

At the same time, it is tough to say whether any news we came across is authentic or not. Doubt regarding online news is increasing nowadays, as fake news is widespread there today. While we think to find a solution to this problem, critical thinking is the only one that can apply.

Whenever we come across any news or information, we should not take it as a divine word. We should try to find or guess the answer to few questions like “From whom it came, what is the place it came from, why did he make it, is there any interest of him or anyone else and so on.”

By analyzing the answers to these questions, we can justify the news’s reliability and authenticity.

Deciding to Purchase a product

Deciding to purchase a product also requires to think critically today. A few years back, we didn’t need to overthink to buy something. It was easy to go to the mall or market, look for the item we need, choose one from the available item, and buy it.

As we are living in a digital age, there is also scope to apply a critical thinking approach to decide to buy something. If you would like to purchase something, you first justify the need for the thing, i.e., do you need the item, or can another way meet it.

If you feel the need, then search the product on the internet to find the model and brand available in the market and know each one’s merits and demerits. Ask your friends and others within your network to see the product’s experience if you find anyone having a good experience to collect further details of the product from him and the internet.

If you do this, there is a low chance of having a bad experience with this product.

Taking care of Health

Health is one of the prime concern to every conscious people today. Most of us try to keeping well, try to get rid of obesity, etc. And there Is no scarcity of suggestions and information around us regarding this. Some of these are not scientific, exaggerated, and rumor.

Moreover, any time information is continually changing. So we need to apply critical thinking to decide how to lead our lives, choose a healthy diet, eat, and what not to eat.�

Presently we are facing the COVID-19 situation throughout the world. And this Pandemic disease is somewhat different from other diseases. Even the scientists are getting baffled to suggest what to do.

Suggestions and information regarding the disorders are frequently changing. A recognized treatment yet to be discovered. If we apply critical thinking, we can be benefitted at least a bit.�

Risk assessment

Business organizations today are undergoing various risks. Economic uncertainty, Political agitation, Climate change, Cyberattack, etc. are continuously pushing the business organization into a threat. To survive within such an environment, business organizations need to assess the risk and threat it abounds with. And it is the employee’s critical thinking ability, which can evaluate the risk with the right approximate.

It involves the activity like listing the risk, defining the nature and extent of each, finding out the factor that influences the risk, whether it is a temporary or permanent risk, and finally to take measures to mitigate the risks.

Some industries are more risk involved e.g., a construction company where the working environment is risky for workers’ lives. So here, addressing and assessing the risk factor is essential.

Otherwise, there could be injuries or even deaths that cause workforce shortage and negatively impact its reputation. Similarly, a financial organization is much more prone to be affected by some financial index.

For example, the introduction of a new law affects overall business activities and customers. It requires critical thinking skills, such as analysis, creativity, and problem-solving. If the financial institution doesn’t apply these critical thinking skills, it could result in losing profit or will suffer legal consequences from regulatory non-compliance. �

Elements of Critical thinking process

Critical thinking is a process that compromises some elements and requires a few steps to follow.

1. Problem Identification

critical thinking process begins with the identification of a problem. Note abnormalities and indications that are likely to cause a problem. Consider it is a problem, why is it a problem. Determine why this problem is there and the possible consequences if no attempt is taken to solve it.

2. Information Gathering

Once something is considered as a problem, gather information about it. Engage yourself to learn as much as possible about the problem. Look for possible reasons, facts, and evidence; Ask other people’s opinions and perspectives regarding the issue. Gather information from multiple sources.

3. Evaluation

In this step, evaluate the information collected in the previous stage. Assess the validity and reliability of the information and ensure that they are accurate. Evaluate the source of information and check whether it is from a single source or more than one source.

4. Find solutions

After evaluating the information and evidence collected, try to deduce solutions to the problem. Plan several solutions based on the conclusions made in the evaluation. List the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.

5. Choose the best solution and Implement

This is the final stage where each solution already suggested is evaluated by considering all the advantages and disadvantages. Consider the risk a solution pose and think whether a solution is easy or difficult to implement. Finally, a practical solution is chosen and implemented.

What are the barriers to critical thinking and how to overcome?

Critical thinking is an important mindset that can help improve our personal life and our professional life. But in reality, very few among us can think critically. Most people don’t have Critical thinking skills because of some reason.

The following are the barriers to critical thinking that prevent us from thinking critically. Also, how to get around this barrier is discussed here.

1. Egocentric behavior

It is the tendency of a person to relate everything to himself and leads to the inability to evaluate others’ perspectives and feelings. He can not tolerate anything beyond his philosophy. He wants others to think of an issue in the same way he thinks.

As a result, he can not broaden his thinking, and the Peoples surrounding him dishearten to think critically. It is one of the most significant Barriers to Critical Thinking and many a time challenging to overcome.�

It is complicated to correct this behavior for a person as he can not find this character flaw. One thing that can help eliminate this tendency is to bring them to an environment where everyone can exchange their views, respect others’ opinions, and question any ideas. Arrange debates, open question-answer session, and group discussion to make them accustomed to open thinking.

2. Group thinking

It is another harmful thing or one of the barriers to Critical thinking. In this case, most of the group people don’t give their views or ask any questions. They remain idle and support whatever other says without any argument.�

To overcome this obstacle, each group member should stand apart and question and argue ideas and opinions presented before him and give his thoughts, beliefs, and ideas.

Only suggesting to do such is not sufficient; also inspire them to think and ask questions, help them grow thinking capability, bring context, and create a situation before him to believe and ask questions easily.

3. Drone mentality

It can be described as a person’s inability to pay attention to what’s going on around him. These kinds of people cannot be attentive in a class meeting or discussion. It becomes a habit for them, and as a result, they cannot think so much.

This habit grows when a person gets exhausted from working a long time and find work tedious. To overcome this barrier, Teachers, supervisors, or hosts Should aware of their audience or officials, make things interesting to them, change topics and tasks.

4. Social condition

The society we live in has some values, thoughts, and assumptions prevailing. Therefore many of us think in a particular way. Their thinking is related to society’s values, beliefs, and assumptions. Usually, it is challenging for them to think beyond this spectrum.�

Again, this is one of the significant barriers to critical thinking as it confined our thinking to a limit. This barrier is also tough to overcome as most people do not realize they are being conditioned to think in a certain way.

Only social and cultural awareness can help to overcome this barrier.

5. Personal Biases

Personal Biases hinder Critical thinking because they influence a person’s justice, and It also prevents one from using experience, reasoning, and common sense to make correct decisions.

To overcome this decision, everyone should practice honesty and integrity.

6. Work pressure

We often are swamped in the workplace. We don’t have much time to accomplish the work assigned. It does affect our skill of critical thinking awfully. When the time is short, and the deadline is knocking the door, most of us walk in a way that does not involve any strategic thinking to complete the job. And here is when the barrier arises to think critically.

To overcome this barrier, we should have a plan and schedule for each job, whether small or big. Also, we should not keep work piled for the future.

It hinders the overall growth and development of a person. As an effect, it is also a barrier to critical thinking. Fear makes a person unconfident and demotivated, and he is not willing to think beyond his circle.

To remove fear from people’s minds, managers, supervisors, or heads of the workplace can play an essential role by ensuring the right working environment.

How can I apply critical thinking to my life ?

In our everyday life, we frequently face various situations, problems, or difficulties. And many a time we conventionally get around this. But if we apply critical thinking, we can quickly meet that moreover, the solution we find here would be more effective than anyone we get otherwise.

Whatever types of situations or problems we encounter and whatever professional we are, student, teacher, doctor, engineer, lawyer, and so on, we first treat everything that we face or everything that we do a problem. And we have the determination or passion for having a solution to it.

Then we try to collect information on this. To do so, we should fond of acquiring knowledge. We always keep our sense alert to receive information from our surroundings.

Next, we must have a certain level of analytical ability to deduce facts from data. However, this requires practice. If we start thinking in this way and continue, hopefully, we could apply critical thinking in our life.

The human being is the best of creations because of the incredible power of its brain. Critical thinking is nothing but to utilize the brain more effectively. We could realize how powerful our brain is if we start thinking critically.

Critical thinking has tremendous value to the employer. Already it is in the list of top seeking soft skills in the world. So it is time for all of us to start thinking critically and make the future generations habituated with this.

But there are some barriers to critical thinking process and If we try, we will be able to overcome them.

Refferences

• balance careers

11 Common Barriers To Critical Thinking – A Simple Guide

Critical thinking is the capacity to think in a clear and rational way . It’s a perspective related to what one should do and what one believes.

But what makes critical thinking a harder task to do. There are some barriers that come in the way of critical thinking.

Critical thinking is just not about collecting information. If you have a good IQ and know a lot of things, you can totally nail it.

11 Most Common Barriers To Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a skill that everyone should have. It helps you make decisions and solve problems, but it can be difficult to use when there are barriers in your way.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the most common barriers to critical thinking and how you can overcome them.

1. Not Being Able To Tell The Difference Between A Fact And An Opinion

The first barrier to critical thinking is confusing facts with opinions. Facts are indisputable and indubitable , whereas opinions are not.

Here are some examples of facts you can easily check:

2. The Person Is Too Self-Obsessed To See Anything Else:

It is the most difficult barrier that makes a person see nothing but themselves. These people consider themselves as an important asset for the world.

This barrier won’t let you acknowledge other people. 

But being self-obsessed is the most difficult barrier to overcome.

3. A Trend Of Brainstorming Together – A Barrier To Critical Thinking:

The nature of critical thinking stands on famous objectives, beliefs, and ideas. When people think collectively, it hardens for everyone to think in their own space.

Everyone relies on what the majority decides and thinks in that direction.

Critical thinking requires that people have to think differently while in a group.

Everyone should think according to their own style even if they are working in a group.

4. Barriers To Critical Thinking – Emotions Are Heavier Than The Logic:

People are becoming more sensitive to the opposite views as time passes. So when people have to face the challenge of disagreement , logic flies out of the window.

And then irrelevant reactions take the place of logic that defies reason and disturbs management.

It’s a barrier to deciding based on emotions and emotion-based decision-making is bad for organizations.

5. The Competition Is Real Hard:

The greater interest of both sides is in winning the argument than in reaching the truth.

Though this concept has its function in a courtroom. And it has nothing to do with the other real life. But even then this is an important barrier to consider.

6. Barriers To Critical Thinking – Overly Relying On Experiences: 

An individual’s experience is his own experience. It doesn’t define what others experience or what happens outside his sphere.

Every person is different. Even the geographical regions are different. So you need to consider experience as an individual’s experience.

7. Accepting Statements Of Superhumans:

If someone they respect or like said these. They don’t pay attention to whether the statement is true or not.

Contrary to that, people would reject a statement if it comes from a person they don’t like.

8. Intellect Is Greater Than Excellence:

For a very long period of time, IQ i.e. intelligence quotient was a measure for intelligence.

Still, some companies consider IQ the only measurement for intelligence. This can be a barrier when companies would miss out on people who could prove to be excellent.

9. Blindly Going Behind What A Myth Says:

Following myths is something that relates to accepting things based on stereotyping.

As we know that stereotypes and assumptions ignore individualistic thinking. These are the factors that hinder the person’s will to analyze the facts and figures.

It also makes people believe what they are doing is right. So they won’t be able to recognize and accept that they are making assumptions.

In such conditions, people can never identify that their judgments base on stereotypes.

10. Barriers To Critical Thinking – Grinding In The Same Cycle:

It happens when an individual falls into a routine. Even the most open-minded people can fell prey to this.

We don’t mean that routine is a bad thing. But it lessens one’s ability to think in an analytical way.

He would forget how to respond to new situations and lose leadership. Moreover, he would begin to shy away from new situations.

11. Following The Power:

You may be accepting your boss’ views about a certain topic and you think the opposite to that.

Now the problem is not with accepting the view of a boss or an expert. The real problem comes when we are not allowed to question it.

Conclusion:

Critical thinking is so important because it exposes fallacies and bad reasoning.

It also plays an important role in cooperative reasoning and constructive tasks.

Do mention in a comment which barrier you think you are facing.

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5 Barriers to Critical Thinking

Posted by Fred Magoro | Sep 27, 2021 | Featured , Mindset | 0 |

Critical thinking is essential to using your overall experience, background, common sense, and other attributes to become more aware of how your efforts for success are being spent. When you have barriers to the critical thinking process, it can seriously harm your ability to move forward.

When you become aware of these barriers, you can better overcome them and focus your thinking on what’s going to move you forward rather than getting stuck behind a barrier – unable to move forward.

Here are five barriers that can impede the critical thinking process:

1. thinking in black or white.

Some people ignore a situation’s complexities by thinking that there’s only one way to solve a problem. The problem is placed in a category, given a label and that’s the only way that matters. Thinking in black and white comes from our need to have certainty in our lives, but it’s false logic to assume that everything is totally one way.

2. Thinking with the Ego

Egocentric thinking is thinking with a lack of understanding others’ wants and needs. It limits your thinking to only your point of view and doesn’t have room for others’ ideas. This thinking process is deeply embedded in our psyches, and it sometimes takes deliberate effort to overcome it.

3. Social Thinking

The drone mentality of social thinking only lets us see things in the way of the popular point of view – or the way that our spouse, companions, parents, and friends think. Thinking outside the box is almost impossible when you have a barrier of social thinking and it can greatly impede the critical thinking process.

4. Authoritative Thinking

Just because someone in authority says it’s true doesn’t mean it is. You’ve likely been swayed at one time or another by political leaders who say one thing is true only to find out later that it was a lie or a misleading way of thinking. The authority could be a person, peer group, institution, or anything that makes you think that they’re right because they’re in an authoritative position.

5. Judgmental Thinking

When you judge something or someone based on moral evaluation it’s usually done in haste and based on our past in some way – such as the way we were raised, educated, or other values and mores. Judgmental thinking is usually non-rational thinking and can block understanding and insight about a person or an issue.

It’s important that we recognize our own barriers to the critical thinking process and replace those barriers with rational and reasoned thinking and then make a concentrated effort to avoid them.

About The Author

Fred Magoro

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5 Barriers to Critical Thinking

What holds us back from thinking critically in day-to-day situations.

Posted January 18, 2019 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

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Quite often, discussions of Critical Thinking (CT) revolve around tips for what you or your students should be doing to enhance CT ability. However, it seems that there’s substantially less discussion of what you shouldn’t be doing—that is, barriers to CT.

About a year ago, I posted "5 Tips for Critical Thinking" to this blog, and after thinking about it in terms of what not to do , along with more modern conceptualizations of CT (see Dwyer, 2017), I’ve compiled a list of five major barriers to CT. Of course, these are not the only barriers to CT; rather, they are five that may have the most impact on how one applies CT.

1. Trusting Your Gut

Trust your gut is a piece of advice often thrown around in the context of being in doubt. The concept of using intuitive judgment is actually the last thing you want to be doing if critical thinking is your goal. In the past, intuitive judgment has been described as "the absence of analysis" (Hamm, 1988); and automatic cognitive processing—which generally lacks effort, intention, awareness, or voluntary control—is usually experienced as perceptions or feelings (Kahneman, 2011; Lieberman, 2003).

Given that intuitive judgment operates automatically and cannot be voluntarily "turned off," associated errors and unsupported biases are difficult to prevent, largely because reflective judgment has not been consulted. Even when errors appear obvious in hindsight, they can only be prevented through the careful, self-regulated monitoring and control afforded by reflective judgment. Such errors and flawed reasoning include cognitive biases and logical fallacies .

Going with your gut—experienced as perceptions or feelings—generally leads the thinker to favor perspectives consistent with their own personal biases and experiences or those of their group.

2. Lack of Knowledge

CT skills are key components of what CT is, and in order to conduct it, one must know how to use these skills. Not knowing the skills of CT—analysis, evaluation, and inference (i.e., what they are or how to use them)—is, of course, a major barrier to its application. However, consideration of a lack of knowledge does not end with the knowledge of CT skills.

Let’s say you know what analysis, evaluation, and inference are, as well as how to apply them. The question then becomes: Are you knowledgeable in the topic area you have been asked to apply the CT? If not, intellectual honesty and reflective judgment should be engaged to allow you to consider the nature, limits, and certainty of what knowledge you do have, so that you can evaluate what is required of you to gain the knowledge necessary to make a critically thought-out judgment.

However, the barrier here may not necessarily be a lack of topic knowledge, but perhaps rather believing that you have the requisite knowledge to make a critically thought-out judgment when this is not the case or lacking the willingness to gain additional, relevant topic knowledge.

3. Lack of Willingness

In addition to skills, disposition towards thinking is also key to CT. Disposition towards thinking refers to the extent to which an individual is willing or inclined to perform a given thinking skill, and is essential for understanding how we think and how we can make our thinking better, in both academic settings and everyday circumstances (Norris, 1992; Siegel, 1999; Valenzuela, Nieto, & Saiz, 2011; Dwyer, Hogan & Stewart, 2014).

Dispositions can’t be taught, per se, but they do play a large role in determining whether or not CT will be performed. Simply, it doesn’t matter how skilled one is at analysis, evaluation, and inference—if they’re not willing to think critically, CT is not likely to occur.

4. Misunderstanding of Truth

Truth-seeking is one such disposition towards thinking, which refers to a desire for knowledge; to seek and offer both reasons and objections in an effort to inform and to be well-informed; a willingness to challenge popular beliefs and social norms by asking questions (of oneself and others); to be honest and objective about pursuing the truth, even if the findings do not support one’s self-interest or pre-conceived beliefs or opinions; and to change one’s mind about an idea as a result of the desire for truth (Dwyer, 2017).

Though this is something for which many of us strive or even just assume we do, the truth is that we all succumb to unwarranted assumptions from time to time: that is, beliefs presumed to be true without adequate justification. For example, we might make a judgment based on an unsubstantiated stereotype or a commonsense/belief statement that has no empirical evidence to justify it. When using CT, it’s important to distinguish facts from beliefs and, also, to dig a little deeper by evaluating "facts" with respect to how much empirical support they have to validate them as fact (see " The Dirtiest Word in Critical Thinking: 'Proof' and its Burden ").

Furthermore, sometimes the truth doesn’t suit people, and so, they might choose to ignore it or try and manipulate knowledge or understanding to accommodate their bias . For example, some people may engage in wishful thinking , in which they believe something is true because they wish it to be; some might engage in relativistic thinking , in which, for them, the truth is subjective or just a matter of opinion.

5. Closed-mindedness

In one of my previous posts, I lay out " 5 Tips for Critical Thinking "—one of which is to play Devil’s Advocate , which refers to the "consideration of alternatives." There’s always more than one way to do or think about something—why not engage such consideration?

The willingness to play Devil’s Advocate implies a sensibility consistent with open-mindedness (i.e., an inclination to be cognitively flexible and avoid rigidity in thinking; to tolerate divergent or conflicting views and treat all viewpoints alike, prior to subsequent analysis and evaluation; to detach from one’s own beliefs and consider, seriously, points of view other than one’s own without bias or self-interest; to be open to feedback by accepting positive feedback, and to not reject criticism or constructive feedback without thoughtful consideration; to amend existing knowledge in light of new ideas and experiences; and to explore such new, alternative, or "unusual" ideas).

At the opposite end of the spectrum, closed-mindedness is a significant barrier to CT. By this stage, you have probably identified the inherent nature of bias in our thinking. The first step of CT is always going to be to evaluate this bias. However, one’s bias may be so strong that it leads them to become closed-minded and renders them unwilling to consider any other perspectives.

Another way in which someone might be closed-minded is through having properly researched and critically thought about a topic and then deciding that this perspective will never change, as if their knowledge will never need to adapt. However, critical thinkers know that knowledge can change and adapt. An example I’ve used in the past is quite relevant here—growing up, I was taught that there were nine planets in our solar system; however, based on further research, our knowledge of planets has been amended to now only consider eight of those as planets.

Being open-minded is a valuable disposition, but so is skepticism (i.e., the inclination to challenge ideas; to withhold judgment before engaging all the evidence or when the evidence and reasons are insufficient; to take a position and be able to change position when the evidence and reasons are sufficient; and to look at findings from various perspectives).

However, one can be both open-minded and skeptical. It is closed-mindedness that is the barrier to CT, so please note that closed-mindedness and skepticism are distinct dispositions.

Dwyer, C.P. (2017). Critical thinking: Conceptual perspectives and practical guidelines. UK: Cambridge University Press.

Dwyer, C.P., Hogan, M.J. & Stewart, I. (2014). An integrated critical thinking framework for the 21st century. Thinking Skills & Creativity, 12, 43-52.

Hamm, R. M. (1988). Clinical intuition and clinical analysis: expertise and the cognitive continuum. In J. Dowie & A. Elstein (Eds.), Professional judgment: A reader in clinical decision making, 78–105. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking fast and slow. Penguin: Great Britain.

Lieberman, M. D. (2003). Reflexive and reflective judgment processes: A social cognitive neuroscience approach. Social Judgments: Implicit and Explicit Processes, 5, 44–67.

Norris, S. P. (Ed.). (1992). The generalizability of critical thinking: Multiple perspectives on an educational ideal. New York: Teachers College Press.

Siegel, H. (1999). What (good) are thinking dispositions? Educational Theory, 49, 2, 207–221.

Valenzuela, J., Nieto, A. M., & Saiz, C. (2011). Critical thinking motivational scale: A contribution to the study of relationship between critical thinking and motivation. Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 9, 2, 823–848.

Christopher Dwyer, Ph.D., is a lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone, Ireland.

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