What İs Polarised Thinking?

Polarised thinking is a way of thinking in which people tend to choose between only two polarised (black-white, right-wrong, good-bad) options on a complex issue. This type of thinking does not fully reflect the complexities of the real world as it tends to ignore nuances.

Polarised thinking is a common tendency for people who want to choose a side on a particular issue and defend their views on it. However, this way of thinking can hinder progress in discussion and decision-making processes and can lead to conflicts. This type of thinking can also cause people to have difficulty understanding other people’s ideas.

In contrast to polarised thinking, extended thinking refers to a more in-depth and nuanced way of thinking, considering multiple perspectives on an issue, including different options and grey areas. This approach can help people to better understand other people’s views and make better progress in discussion and decision-making. What is polarised thinking? This is the answer to the question.

Furthermore, polarised thinking can make it difficult for people to question their personal beliefs and miss the opportunity to encounter different perspectives. Polarised thinking can therefore be a warning sign for people to be aware of their own limitations and prejudices.

There are also situations where polarised thinking is natural. For example, in some situations, a quick decision may need to be made and it may therefore be useful to limit the options. However, polarised thinking is not a long-term solution as it prevents a deeper understanding of an issue and creates difficulties in understanding other people’s perspectives.

In conclusion, polarised thinking is a way of thinking that tends to choose between only two options when thinking about the world. Expanded thinking refers to a more in-depth and nuanced way of thinking, considering multiple perspectives on an issue.

How to Avoid Polarised Thinking?

The following tips can be useful to avoid polarised thinking:

1. Accept perspectives and nuances: Recognise that there are not just two options on a topic and that there are different perspectives and nuances. This can help you understand a topic more deeply and gain more knowledge.
2. Research the information: Instead of getting information about a topic from just a few sources, gather information from different sources and check the accuracy of the information. This will give you a more objective perspective.
3. Question your own prejudices: Recognise and question your own prejudices. Recognising your own biases can help you to be more open-minded with different perspectives.
4. Empathise: Try to understand other people’s perspectives and empathise. Recognise that different people have different life experiences and perspectives and try to understand their point of view.
5. Manage conflict: When discussing with people with different views, adopt a positive and constructive attitude to avoid conflict and tension. Mutual respect, open-mindedness and listening can help you avoid conflicts.

Ultimately, avoiding polarised thinking is about accepting different points of view, exploring different perspectives, questioning your own biases, empathising and managing conflict. This approach can help you to be more open-minded, think more deeply and create a more constructive debate.