How Bias Influences Critical Thinking
How Bias Influences Critical Thinking
Lindsay Hickman
CRT/205
October 12, 2014
Gary Robinson
How Bias Influences Critical Thinking
I first made the decision to return to school a few months ago because it would benefit my family in the long run, as I intend to return to work when my two infants start kindergarten. Three months after beginning classes, a news report came out about a local two-year-old little boy named Colton, who was missing. There were very graphic photos that circulated over Facebook that documented the abuse the baby was being subjected to. As a mother of a two-year-old little girl and an eight-month-old little boy, it was weeks before I could look at my own children without crying or thinking about Colton. I was faced with putting the facts of the case aside and focusing on my children. As a mother, this was very difficult to do.
As the case progressed the body of a little boy was found buried in a shallow grave wrapped in a blanket. It was the body of baby Colton. Even now writing about the situation is upsetting to me because I can’t imagine someone hurting a defenseless child.
I had to come to grips with the fact that this had happened and that it happened so close to home. I was forced to remove myself from the news feeds as I was being influenced to think the same as others against the people responsible for this horrific act of cruelty. This type of bias is known as the “bandwagon effect, which refers to an unconscious tendency to align one’s thinking with that of other people’s.” (Moore & Parker, 2012, pg. 18)
I have been successful in reversing that bias. Instead of focusing on what should happen to those responsible for the death of Colton, I have decided to hold my children a little longer when hugging them, kiss them more often, and ensure beyond a doubt that they feel safe.
Reference
Moore, B. N., & Parker, R. (2012). Critical thinking (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Lindsay Hickman
CRT/205
October 12, 2014
Gary Robinson
How Bias Influences Critical Thinking
I first made the decision to return to school a few months ago because it would benefit my family in the long run, as I intend to return to work when my two infants start kindergarten. Three months after beginning classes, a news report came out about a local two-year-old little boy named Colton, who was missing. There were very graphic photos that circulated over Facebook that documented the abuse the baby was being subjected to. As a mother of a two-year-old little girl and an eight-month-old little boy, it was weeks before I could look at my own children without crying or thinking about Colton. I was faced with putting the facts of the case aside and focusing on my children. As a mother, this was very difficult to do.
As the case progressed the body of a little boy was found buried in a shallow grave wrapped in a blanket. It was the body of baby Colton. Even now writing about the situation is upsetting to me because I can’t imagine someone hurting a defenseless child.
I had to come to grips with the fact that this had happened and that it happened so close to home. I was forced to remove myself from the news feeds as I was being influenced to think the same as others against the people responsible for this horrific act of cruelty. This type of bias is known as the “bandwagon effect, which refers to an unconscious tendency to align one’s thinking with that of other people’s.” (Moore & Parker, 2012, pg. 18)
I have been successful in reversing that bias. Instead of focusing on what should happen to those responsible for the death of Colton, I have decided to hold my children a little longer when hugging them, kiss them more often, and ensure beyond a doubt that they feel safe.
Reference
Moore, B. N., & Parker, R. (2012). Critical thinking (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.