An Expanded Definition of Critical Thinking
for Media Psychology
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| In the Princess Bride, Vizzini's critical thinking is fatally flawed. He fails to take into consideration The Dread Pirate Robert's agenda when he applies critical thinking to the problem of which glass of wine is poisoned. I created this meme on memegenerator.com. View the clip here. |
Abstract
In looking to propose a definition for
critical thinking I explored the question, “What are the most important
qualities necessary for a critical thinker in Media Psychology?” This question was explored through a
survey of material on the topic and in discussion with fellow students of Media Psychology. I reviewed material on critical thinking practices in Eastern and Western
cultures, such as the ancient Greek Socratic method and the Buddhist practice of the kalama sutta method, as well as the materials available on the the Foundation for Critical Thinking website. While informative and foundational it appeared that these resources
held a bias. They were organized around a critical thinking practice that was focused on critiquing the
spoken or written word as was prevalent at the time these practices were developed. I further sought out resources that applied critical
thinking to the full spectrum of media, such as the Center for Media Literacy. Additionally, I reviewed materials on critical thinking published and recorded by the respected
contemporary critical thinkers of our time. I determined that critical
thinking for Media Psychology requires an expanded definition in order to be
applied to all present and emerging forms of media. Critical thinking in Media Psychology is a
reflective practice that applies inquiry
to the point-of-view in every medium in order to ascertain the truth and
determine the best course of action. As a student in Media Psychology I specifically
chose the phrase point-of-view in order to encompass all media whether audio or
visual, social or digital, a printed piece, augmented reality or hologram, as
well as any new or emerging medium not yet realized. This definition provides a
foundation for our work as Media Psychologists.
It will provide a framework for decision-making as we scrutinize all
forms of media, theories and research for truth and accuracy. Additionally,
this practice will enable us to structure competent positions and support for our
own theories and research that will continue to help define Media Psychology
itself.
Media Psychology needs a critical thinking definition that can apply
to new forms of media as they emerge such as the hologram.
For example USC's New Dimensions in Testimony project aims to connect
students with Holocast survivors through holograms.
Treatment
Defining critical thinking as a
practice is imperative. One must exercise the critical thinking muscle, the
brain, in order to develop the skill. (In the same way that one must have a
yoga practice in order to develop and maintain the ability to attain the asanas.) There is a difference between knowing what critical thinking (or yoga) is, and having the ability to practice it. Critical thinking
expert Richard Paul states that critical thinking is “thinking which entails
self improvement.” Paul describes the process of moving from an unreflective
thinker, to “becoming aware of problems in our thinking,” as the first step in
the process of developing as a critical thinker. By becoming aware we move from narrow
thinking that is derived through our personal perspective and the biases we
carry, to a more open form of thought and inquiry that is productive. Considering
who is presenting the problem, what, where and why they might be forwarding
their perspective, as well as questioning our own preexisting perspective, sets
the stage for the application of a critical thinking practice.
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| My husband and I practicing yoga. |
Applying critical thinking to the
point-of-view requires the application of the practice through an expanded
inquiry. First, ask questions to make
sure there is absolute clarity as to the problem that has been presented. Next applying a process of inquiry to the point-of-view requires
a deconstruction of the medium itself and the unique ways in which each medium might subvert
the critical thinking process. In a Center for Media Literacy article, David
Considine proposes that we must be conversant with the “codes, conventions and characteristics”
inherent in a medium. How the point-of-view is presented
or manipulated in each medium must be scrutinized and brought into question as well. This
inquiry will work to reveal what is factual in all dimensions of the communication and
determine any flaws, bias, assumptions or manipulations that prove false,
misrepresent the truth or undermine the logic of the point-of-view that is presented.
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| This photo was taken by marine biology student Amanda Byrd of bears just offshore lounging on ice. It was misappropriated and released on the date the UN released a global warming report. The release stated that these bears were stranded due to global warning. The ensuing reveal of the true circumstances of the photo arguably undermined the report itself. |
Richard
Paul differentiates between a strong-sense critical thinker and a weak-sense
critical thinker. The strong-sense critical thinker seeks to eliminate bias in
order to arrive at the truth. The weak-sense critical thinker may be skilled at
their practice, but uses it with bias to promote an agenda. I would expand that definition as well. The strong-sense
Media Psychologist must inquire into the content, the context and the media
form itself in order to determine if it is embedded in some way with misinformation.
By taking this holistic approach to critical thinking in media, we are better
equipped to determine the best course of action, which is a key component of critical thinking for Media Psychology. In a 1996 interview Richard Dawkins asserts that critical thinking evolved
as a survival mechanism:
I
don’t think it’s very hard to imagine ways in which critical thinking could
have benefited the survival of our ancestors.
I think that taking a rational view of evidence would probably have
helped our ancestors to survive in a world of saber tooth tigers, and ice ages, and drying up water holes and all the other hazards, which threatened life.
Richard Dawkins discusses the evolution
of critical thinking. October 23, 2006.
Applying critical thinking in
evaluating the media of the flora and fauna that surrounded our ancestors helped
them to decide the best course of action and increased their ability to
survive. Today we are surrounded for the most part by a multi-media world, we need to reapply those critical thinking skills to the sounds and screens of a digital world. With the problems presented in the media today, such as global
warming, obesity and terrorism, we need an expanded definition of critical thinking for
Media Psychology. A definition that will guide us through today's virtual environments toward
determining the best course of action, as in examples such as these, survival is
indeed at stake.
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| Tokyo at night is almost entirely a digital electronic environment. |
Summary
Applying a critical thinking
definition for media psychology allows us to move beyond the practice of a one-dimensional
approach of critiquing the problems presented in written and spoken words to an
expanded practice that accounts for the ways in which all media presents a
point-of-view. Critical thinking in Media Psychology is a reflective practice
that applies inquiry to the point-of-view in every medium in order to ascertain
the truth and determine the best course of action. Inquiring the who, what, when, where, and
why to the problem, as well as applying inquiry to the how of the presentation in
each medium is a holistic approach that will better reveal the truth,
guide the course of action and set a precedent for the contribution of Media
Psychology.
References
Critical Thinking. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking
Considine, D. Critical Viewing and Critical Thinking Skills.
Retrieved from Medialit.org April 13, 2013
Dawkins, Richard, October 23, 2006, CSPAN, Washington D.C.
Retrieved April 13, 2013 from youtube
Kalama Sutta. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalama_sutta
Lear, N. & Reiner, R. September 25, 1987.
The Princess Bride. United
States; MGM
Socratic Method. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method
Paul, R.P. Fundamentals of Critical Thinking.
Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org//
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