Tools of Critical Thinking : Metathoughts for Psychology

by Levy, David A.

• ISBN13: 9781577663164
• ISBN10: 1577663160
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc

Summary

This is a book designed to improve one's thinking skills through the application of metathinking principles, which consist of a series of specific strategies, methods, and techniques for approaching all forms of inquiry, study and problem solving, with particular application to the field of psychology. Metathoughts are cognitive tools that can be successfully taught, learned, and utilized to consider issues from a variety of different perspectives and alternate points of view. The ideas in this book are vividly brought to life with illustrative examples, clinical anecdotes, case vignettes, contemporary social problems and issues, challenging exercises, and clever satires--all drawn from a diverse sampling of topics within psychology and packaged in a form that is engrossing, easy to read, and eminently useful. Even ideas that potentially might be confusing, obscure, or elusive are organized and presented in a manner that is straightforward, understandable, and enjoyable.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Preface

List of Tables

List of Figures

Conceptualizing Phenomena

The Evaluative Bias of Language: To Describe Is to Prescribe

The Reification Error: Comparing Apples and Existentialism

Multiple Levels of Description: The Simultaneity of Physical and Psychological Events

The Nominal Fallacy and Tautologous Reasoning: To Name Something Isn't to Explain It

Differentiating Dichotomous Variables and Continuous Variables: Black and White, or Shades of Grey?

Consider the Opposite: To Contrast Is to Define

The Similarity-Uniqueness Paradox: All Phenomena Are Both Similar and Different

The Naturalistic Fallacy: Blurring the Line Between "Is" and "Should."

The Barnum Effect: "One-Size-Fits-All" Personality Interpretations

Explaining Phenomena

Correlation Does Not Prove Causation: Confusing "What" With "Why."

Bi-Directional Causation: Causal Loops, Healthy Spirals, and Vicious Cycles

Multiple Causation: Not "Either/Or," But "Both/And."

Degrees of Causation: Not All Causes Are Created Equal

Multiple Pathways of Causation: Different Causes, Same Effects

Common Misattributions

The Fundamental Attribution Error: Underestimating the Impact of External Influences

The Intervention-Causation Fallacy: The Cure Doesn't Prove the Cause

The Consequence-Intentionality Fallacy: The Effect Doesn't Prove the Intent

The "If I Feel It, It Must Be True" Fallacy: The Truth Hurts But So Do Lies

The Spectacular Explanation Fallacy: Extraordinary Events Do Not Require Extraordinary Causes

Investigating Phenomena

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: Two Methods of Inference

Reactivity: To Observe Is to Disturb

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: When Expectations Create Reality

The Assimilation Bias: Viewing the World Through Schema-Colored Glasses

The Confirmation Bias: Ye Shall Find Only What Ye Shall Seek

The Belief Perseverance Effect: The Rat Is Always Right

The Hindsight Bias: Predicting a Winner After the Race Is Finished

Other Biases And Fallacies In Thinking

The Representativeness Bias: Fits and Misfits of Categorization

The Availability Bias: The Persuasive Power of Vivid Events

The Insight Fallacy: To Understand Something Isn't Necessarily to Change It

Conclusions

Every Decision Is a Trade-Off: Take Stock of Pluses and Minuses

Epilogue: Concluding Meta-Metathoughts

Metathoughts Summary and Antidote Table

"Pervasive Labeling Disorder."

Selected Answers to Chapter Exercises

Glossary of Terms

References

Name Index

Subject Index

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