Critical Thinking: Barriers, Solutions, and Examples

This essay delves into the concept of critical thinking, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and overcoming various barriers. The author highlights how egocentric behavior, lack of knowledge, and close-mindedness can hinder the process of critical thinking. The essay emphasizes the importance of analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving as essential steps in critical thinking, offering examples such as resolving workplace disputes and planning for college expenses. The author concludes by underscoring the necessity of understanding these barriers and employing the mentioned steps to develop persuasive arguments and achieve accuracy in critical thinking. The essay references several academic sources to support its claims.

Running head: BARRIERS TO CRITICAL THINKING
BARRIERS TO CRITICAL THINKING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1BARRIERS TO CRITICAL THINKING
Critical thinking allows an individual to make reasonable judgments that are well-
thought as well as logical (Paul and Elder 2019). While applying critical thinking, it is not
mandatory to accept all the arguments and conclusions drawn from the topic. Instead, one can
have their pattern of questioning, reasoning, and conclusions that can be drawn accordingly.
The essay aims to highlight the dos and don’ts of critical thinking with the help of examples.
As a critical thinker, one must be aware of the barriers and the challenges involved in
it. Some of the steps should be avoided while applying critical thinking such as-
misunderstanding, lack of willingness and knowledge are some barriers that a critical thinker
might face (Brown 2018). Egocentric behaviour should be avoided while using critical
thinking. It is a way of thinking in which everything is related to oneself. For example, when
a child wishes something to happen and it happens then he tries to take the credit of the
situation. Such thinking prevents considering another point of view. Lack of knowledge too
aggravates the problem where one thinks that he/she has the required expertise to apply
critical thinking. Misunderstanding arises when one does not want to accept the truth or try to
manipulate it to suit their bias. Another barrier is close-mindedness, where one having
researched the topic very well thinks that it cannot be adapted further.
On the other hand, steps like analysis, evaluation, explanation, interpretation, problem
solving and observation needs to be followed while applying critical thinking on a topic or
situation as it gives a detailed view of the subject to the thinker as well as the audience and
also helps in overcoming the barriers of critical thinking (Cottrell 2017). It helps to acquire a
deep understanding of the problem. These steps are essential as a critical thinker can draw the
strengths and limitations of the topic. If the above steps are followed, it will help in widening
the perspectives regarding the situation. For instance, critical thinking is needed when a
manager tries to solve a dispute in his company has to go through all opinions of
disagreements and come out with an alternative. Similarly, critical thinking is applied when

2BARRIERS TO CRITICAL THINKING
parents try to anticipate the expenses of sending their child to college. They need to think
about family income, everyday expenditure before saving money for their child.
Thus, to conclude, accuracy in critical thinking can be achieved when one studies
about its barriers in detail and follow the steps as mentioned in the above paragraph to initiate
a persuasive argument.

3BARRIERS TO CRITICAL THINKING
References
Brown, K., 2018. Education, culture and critical thinking. Routledge.
Cottrell, S., 2017. Critical thinking skills: Effective analysis, argument and reflection.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Ennis, R.H., 2018. Critical thinking across the curriculum: A vision. Topoi, 37(1), pp.165-
184.
Paul, R. and Elder, L., 2019. The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts & tools.
Rowman & Littlefield.