Deck 9: Fair-Mindedness

Question 1

Rationalization is a form of being honest with oneself.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Understanding means agreement when listening to another person.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Our feelings often stem from our thinking about a particular situation.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The text lists several reasons that we have trouble being good listeners. Which of the following was not listed?

A) We tend to focus on victory more than on understanding
B) We aren't trained to listen
C) We fear losing our train of thought
D) We fear agreeing with the other person
E) All of the above were listed as blocks to good listening

Question 5

_____may cause us to distort the truth of our circumstances and to make poor decisions.

A) Logical appeals
B) Rational appeals
C) Emotional reasoning
D) Invalid reasoning
E) Centralized reasoning

Question 6

Which is not a type of debilitating emotion?

A) Overgeneralizing
B) Mind-reading
C) Catastrophizing
D) Paraphrasing
E) Filtering

Question 7

Matching

-The tendency to follow others uncritically, usually to gain acceptance or avoid conflict.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 8

Matching

-The tendency to view one's own race or culture as central, based on deep-seated belief that one's own group is superior to all others.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 9

Matching

-A technique aimed at self-protection through avoidance of unpleasant realities.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 10

Matching

-A state of mental discomfort that occurs whenever two ideas are out of sync or when behavior is inconsistent with beliefs.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 11

Matching

-A defense technique that underlies many other; it involves justifying or making sense and explaining things away that should be brought under examination.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 12

Matching

-The tendency to view everything else in relationship to oneself; one's own desires, values, beliefs, and actions seem to be self-evidently correct or superior to those of others.

A) Defense mechanism
B) Rationalization
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Egocentrism
E) Ethnocentrism
F) Conformity

Question 13

Explain denial, and give an example.

Question 14

What are "points of logical vulnerability?" Give an example.

Question 15

How does egocentrism interfere with critical thinking?

Question 16

What are defense mechanisms and why do we use them? How do they impede critical thinking?

Question 17

Give an example of when denial is helpful rather than an impediment.

Question 18

We can improve the clarity of our thinking processes by increasing the accuracy with which we speak. Why is this true?

Question 19

Define empathy. Why would a critical thinker want to have the skill of empathy?

Question 20

What are three reasons we find listening difficult?

Question 21

What are two advantages to listening well?

Question 22

26 What are the two precautions to use when you try to actively listen to another person?

Question 23

Define emotional reasoning and give a few categories of this type of reasoning.

Question 24

Change the following sentence from a prejudicial, insane statement to a rational statement. You will need to add details. Use the index, date, specific behavior, and etc. to make your changes.
People from that town don't care about others.

Question 25

Explain the technique of listening for understanding that was explained in the text and demonstrated in class. Create a short dialogue to illustrate the technique. Or, give your viewpoint on the extent to which you find this listening method useful or not useful.

Question 26

Discuss a point of logical vulnerability that you have observed in yourself, in someone you know, or in a public figure. Why do you think it is a point of logical vulnerability? What could you or the other person do to minimize its impact on critical thinking?