How to Become a Critical Thinker and Think Outside the Box

Learning how to become a critical thinker is an acquired skill that many people believe they possess but very few actually do. Most of your college educated people have been exposed to critical thinking and understand it, but it does not mean that all apply its teachings. The skill of critical thinking is very apparent when discussing a topic with someone that thinks critically and one that does not. The critical thinker will listen to all the facts without making any assumptions and will usually not believe what was said to them until research verifies it. A non-critical thinker will make assumptions and draw conclusions on information that they have no idea if it is factual or not. In this article I will attempt to teach everyone a few tips on how to become a critical thinker.

Instructions

1. Be open-minded. It is so easy to have preconceived notions on a subject, but fight the urge and listen to the statement or problem presented to you. Don't draw to quick conclusions even if they seem apparent. Think of it as trying to solve a mystery on TV. The apparent answer is rarely the right one. Arriving at the answer involves gathering facts and throwing out biases.

2. Think outside the box. I'm sure you have heard this phrase but it's the critical thinker's motto. Think differently than everyone else. It's easier said than done but a trick I use is not reading or listening to others ideas until I have drawn my own conclusions. It's so easy to be drawn into one way of thinking when hearing another's ideas so do your best to refrain until you believe you have solved the problem. Another trick I find helpful is to try and think like a child. I know this sounds silly, but it's amazing how young children can solve riddles before adults can. They think on a completely different level and rarely over-think things as most adults do. It all takes practice.

3. Research statements. I cannot say enough on this subject. Erroneous statements are made every day and non-critical thinkers take them and run. They do not bother to check the facts for accuracy; it's much easier not to. They will eventually look like fools when the garbage they have been repeating is proven false and any credibility they had will be gone. Credibility is everything. Check your facts before you repeat them and you will gain credibility and the respect of others.

Tips & Warnings

• This is an acquired skill and is the goal of college. In college, the number one thing you will learn is how to think, and think critically.