Introduction
A society that does not value critical thinking will likely face several negative consequences. The most significant consequences are confirmation bias and sociocentrism. Confirmation bias and sociocentrism have a significant impact on individuals and society, leading to limited perspectives, a lack of empathy, and the perpetuation of harmful beliefs.
These issues are evident in Langston Hughes’ “Salvation” and Vincent Ruggiero’s Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking as well as in modern American culture and can be addressed through critical thinking and examination of personal beliefs. A lack of emphasis on critical thinking by both individuals and society can produce harmful effects, including confirmation bias and sociocentrism. These cognitive distortions may promote the spread of misinformation, hinder questioning of prevailing narratives, and limit the consideration of alternative viewpoints.
Summary of the Books
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes is a short story that explores the theme of faith and disillusionment. The narrator, a young boy, is taken to a revival meeting by his aunt with the expectation that he will have a religious epiphany. However, the boy is disappointed when he does not feel the spiritual connection he has been promised. The story critiques the pressure to conform to societal expectations of religious experience.
Beyond Feelings is a book by Vincent Ruggiero that aims to teach readers how to develop critical thinking skills. It covers logical fallacies, cognitive biases, and how to evaluate arguments. The book provides practical examples and exercises to help readers apply these concepts in their everyday lives. Overall, the book provides a valuable resource for individuals seeking to enhance their critical thinking skills.
Consequence of Confirmation Bias
Without further context, it is hard to tell whether the sources exhibit confirmation bias and sociocentrism. However, the authors or characters in the sources may exhibit these biases. Confirmation bias, the tendency to only seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, can lead to a lack of critical thinking and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes (Del Vicario et al., 1-9).
For example, in the story “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, the protagonist’s desire to see himself as “saved” leads him to disregard evidence that contradicts his belief, ultimately causing him to miss the true meaning of salvation. His aunt pressures Langston to accept Jesus as his savior at a church revival meeting. Thus, he gives false testimony of being “saved” at the event to please the adults in his life (Sharpe). Even though he does not feel saved, Langston goes along with it because he wants to believe that he has had a religious experience.
Ultimately, Langston is disappointed that he does not feel the same religious fervor as the other attendees. However, he is too afraid to admit this to his aunt, as he knows it would contradict her beliefs and expectations (Sharpe). He ultimately rejects the religious experience he was supposed to have.
Still, the pressure to conform to his aunt’s and the church’s beliefs limited his perspective and ability to think critically. This lack of critical thinking perpetuates harmful beliefs and restricts personal growth. In modern American culture, confirmation bias can perpetuate stereotypes, such as the belief that all Muslims are terrorists or all Black people are criminals. The story encourages readers to question their assumptions and beliefs and to think deeply about the impact of religious teachings on their lives.
Consequence for Sociocentric Thinking
As stated previously, the source does not necessarily provide evidence of sociocentrism. Broadly, sociocentrism can be described as the tendency to prioritize the beliefs and values of one’s group over those of others, which can lead to discrimination and prejudice (Tanaka and Gilliland 657-674). In Beyond Feelings, Ruggiero explores how sociocentrism can foster an “us versus them” mentality, where individuals perceive members of other groups as inferior or less deserving of respect and consideration. Additionally, failing to value critical thinking can result in an inability to consider alternative perspectives.
In his book, Ruggiero also explores the importance of considering multiple viewpoints and examining the evidence behind them. Without critical thinking, individuals may not consider alternative perspectives and instead rely on their biases and preconceived notions (59-67). This can lead to the perpetuation of narrow-mindedness and intolerance towards individuals with different beliefs and experiences.
Similarly, sociocentrism can lead to a lack of cooperation and collaboration. When we view the world only from our own perspective, we are less likely to consider the perspectives of others and work together towards common goals. This can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, as we fail to consider the needs and perspectives of others. Another consequence of sociocentrism is that it can reinforce existing power imbalances and inequalities. When we only consider the viewpoints of our own group, we are less likely to consider the views of marginalized groups and to recognize and address issues of inequality.
In modern American culture, sociocentrism can lead to discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors, as well as the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and prejudices. Ruggiero provides tools and strategies for analyzing and evaluating arguments, as well as making well-informed decisions based on evidence and reason (72-87). This way, his book encourages readers to develop a skeptical and critical mindset, challenging their beliefs and assumptions.
In modern American culture, confirmation bias and sociocentrism are evident in the prevalence of echo chambers and groupthink. These issues limit individuals’ perspectives and hinder their ability to empathize with others who are not part of their group. This lack of empathy can lead to harmful actions, such as discrimination and prejudice.
In modern American culture, there are often dominant narratives about race, gender, and other identities that are accepted without critical examination. For example, the belief that America is a meritocracy where anyone can succeed with hard work is a dominant narrative that ignores the systemic barriers and privileges that individuals from marginalized groups face. Socio-centric thinking, where individuals prioritize the interests and values of their group, can prevent individuals from considering alternative perspectives and challenging these dominant narratives.
Personal Experience
An essential first step in fostering an inclusive setting is for individuals to become aware of their own cognitive biases. Often, these stem from people’s upbringing, the upbringing of others, and cultural experiences, which shape their actions and interactions (Stegall 1). In my journey, reading “Salvation” and Beyond Feelings helped me to improve my perception of the world around me.
Before reading these texts, I often blindly accepted the beliefs and perspectives of those around me without questioning them. However, after reading “Salvation,” I realized the limitations of confirmation bias and sociocentrism and began to examine my own beliefs, considering multiple perspectives. I gained a deeper understanding of the world through critical thinking and became more empathetic toward others. I now strive to challenge my biases and consider alternative perspectives to gain a deeper understanding of the world around me.
I believe that confirmation bias and sociocentrism can harm individuals and society. These issues limit perspectives and hinder empathy, thereby perpetuating harmful beliefs and actions. Through critical thinking and examining their personal beliefs, individuals can address these issues and improve their worldview. More importantly, not valuing critical thinking can lead to dangerous outcomes such as the perpetuation of misinformation, the failure to challenge dominant narratives, and the inability to consider alternative perspectives. Individuals and society must recognize the importance of critical thinking to avoid these consequences and improve our understanding of the world.
Conclusion
A society that does not value critical thinking will likely suffer several negative consequences, including confirmation bias, sociocentrism, and a lack of progress and social cohesion. Individuals and society must cultivate critical thinking skills and value open-mindedness and independent thought. The key sources encourage critical thinking by challenging readers to question their beliefs and assumptions and to think deeply and critically about the world around them. They provide valuable tools and strategies for developing critical thinking skills and can help to foster a more thoughtful and reflective society.
However, “Salvation” may be criticized for its limited perspective and narrow focus on a single individual’s experience. The story offers limited insight into the broader cultural and historical context of the revival meeting, nor does it delve into the perspectives of other characters. As a result, the source may be seen as incomplete and overly simplistic in its analysis of religion and faith.
Similarly, Beyond Feelings may be criticized for lacking depth and complexity. While the book provides a solid introduction to critical thinking, it does not delve into more advanced or specialized topics, such as the philosophical foundations of critical thinking or the application of critical thinking in specific disciplines. Additionally, the author’s writing style may be seen as overly dry and academic, making the book less accessible to a general audience.
Works Cited
Del Vicario, Michela, et al. “Modeling confirmation bias and polarization.” Scientific reports, vol. 7, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1-9.
Ruggiero, Ryan Vincent. Beyond feelings: A guide to critical thinking. McGraw Hill, 2012.
Sharpe, Matthew. “On ‘Salvation’ by Langston Hughes.” The Center for Fiction, 2022. Web.
Stegall, Diana. “Challenge Your Assumptions.” Professional Safety, vol. 64, no. 8, 2019, pp.: 1-2.
Tanaka, Jay, and Betsy Gilliland. “Critical thinking instruction in English for academic purposes writing courses: A dialectical thinking approach.” Tesol Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, 2017, pp. 657-674.