Developing Critical Thinkers with Steve Pearlman

In an age overwhelmed by information, opinion, and polarization, the ability to think critically isn't just useful, it's essential. In this episode, we will learn how we can develop strategies to think critically and make smarter decisions, what it means to challenge assumptions, expose common thinking traps, and offer immediately usable strategies for clearer, more effective reasoning in everyday life. Steve’s biography: Steve Pearlman, Ph.D., is arguably the world’s foremost critical thinking expert. After founding the United States’ first academic department solely focused on researching critical thinking and how to teach people to do it, Steve subsequently shared his methods at educational institutions, conferences, and businesses. He is frequently featured in national and international media, and he’s the author of America’s Critical Thinking Crisis: The Failure and Promise of Education. In this episode, we dive deep into answering the following thorny questions:  00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Steve’s journey to becoming an expert in critical thinking 04:00 – Critical thinking definition and how it is taught 07:00 – What are default modes of how our brain functions 10:00 – How to maintain critical thinking when there is an overload of information 12:30 – How to assess whether a source of information is credible 15:00 – How to ask the right question when you don’t know what you don’t know 17:15 – Why reassessing the information and refining your initial question is key in critical thinking 18:00 – Why critical thinking does not always need to take a lot of time 19:30 – How to teach kids critical thinking by prioritising reasoning over authority (parenting example) 25:30 – Why intellectual humility is the solution when two people are in disagreement 29:30 – How to deal with someone who is rejecting reason and facts due to polarization in politics 33:10 – Is it possible to maintain critical thinking in the context of time pressures 35:15 – What training programs are available to develop critical thinking skills 37:20 – Example of how leaders remove critical thinking at meetings 39:45 – Example of how leaders can create an environment that fosters critical thinking 42:35 – Can people maintain critical thinking when experiencing burnout 45:30 – What resources are available to move from threat to a challenge that you can meet 48:20 – How to deal with a person who is not receptive to your thinking 51:10 – Why asking questions can cause someone to become defensive 53:20 – Ways to foster critical thinking in virtual meetings 55:15 – How to assess if someone has critical thinking skills 57:45 – How to constructively handle naysayers in discussions 59:50 – One tip to develop critical thinking skills 01:00:55 – What is Steve’s one wellbeing practice Learn more about the Critical Thinking Institute:  https://www.thectinstitute.com/ Learn more about Clearhead https://www.myclearhead.com/