In logic and critical thinking one’s evaluation of a claim is to be centered on the evidence and reasoning proposed. But, we are not simply rational beings without history, emotion, or experience. Bias can sneak into the picture clouding our ability to discern a position. Identifying bias may take some detective work and a healthy dose of humility. This is not in and of itself negative. We are human after all. Recognizing bias allows for fruitful debate and a self-check. Biases are not Voldemort. Calling them out is an authentic means for being positively engaged in an exchange of ideas or even a heated debate. It can also give you pause to understand where another person is coming from when they are asserting their position.

Note: understanding is not the same thing as agreeing.

In a rather tangential way, I was reminded of this tenant of critical thinking when I recently read a novel that’s been at the heart of a Hollywood controversy: It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover. I find pop culture fascinating because it reveals the focal point of values and our concept of entertainment in society.

Now, I’m sorry to report this, but the novel was terrible.

I won’t focus on the problems of the novel because for my purposes I want to illustrate how I fell into the human trap of influence and bias; neither of which impacted what I thought about the book but did impact my experience of reading the book.

Being aware of the controversies around the production and promotion of the film on which the novel was based, interrupted my ability to fully immerse myself in the story. Knowing the cast of the movie caused me to superimpose them onto the characters. I could hear their voices and imagine their look, body language, and fashion choices.

In other words, I could not untangle the influence of their interpretation of the story with a clean reading of my own. I also imagined the topic of domestic violence would entail a slow burn, but I instead could see the red flags in the behavior of the perpetrator immediately. I struggled to relate to the main character because the string of awkward and off-putting interview clips of Blake Lively (who plays the lead) has made quite the rounds on the internet. My distaste for Lively’s method of discussing the film eclipsed my reading of the character she played.

This experience of reading It Ends With Us reminded me of the importance of spotting influence and bias. There are no serious repercussions to lounging with a novel and picturing actors who played the characters in lieu of one’s mental effort at imagery. It is the underscoring principle I’m interested in here: namely, the ease in which we can slip into familiar influence or bias at the cost of listening or thinking or evaluating.

We’re in a heated political and cultural climate right now. Critical thinking enables us to sort out relevant information and address issues with intellectual honesty. This means, in part, listening to one’s use of words or phrases that frame big questions in the media and by politicians.

Questions to ask yourself before you assert yourself:

Can I restate an argument different from my own without attaching a value claim?

How does my upbringing influence the way I see the world? If I were born in a different body, different region, different economic bracket, what positions would I still find true?

Do I accept fallibility and variety within my group but believe everyone of the other group is the same? (For example, all Democrats want control. Or, all Republicans hate women. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are Republicans who seek control and power, and there are misogynists in the Democrat party.)

Do my ideas align with my primary news source? How many sources do I take into consideration? Do I ignore information when it doesn’t confirm my views? (For example, do I believe RFK Jr’s endorsement of Trump is evidence of problems with the Democrat Party and, in turn, proves the excellence of candidate Trump’s views? To highlight RFK Jr’s decision is to confirm, most likely, one’s political belief. It ignores the number of Republicans who served in Trump’s administration and testified at the January 6th hearings who will not endorse him. In other words, a lot of weight is added to RFK Jr’s stance where other relevant information is dismissed.)

Being reflective on the foundation of our points of view is a monumental task. I do promise, though, that the mental energy put into it is far more rewarding and authentic than passing along a gotcha meme or ad hominem attack.