Lefton Learning Community

Exercise Your Critical Thinking Skills

What's the difference between someone who is "pushy" and someone who is "assertive"? In many cases, nothing more than the values held by the observer! Why? Because "pushiness" and "assertiveness" - just like every other personality characteristic - are primarily in the eye of the perceiver. In this way, we perceive other people based on our own personal likes and dislikes.

The problem is that language has built-in and inescapable biases, in that words function as BOTH "objective" descriptions AND "subjective" value judgments. Surprising (and strange) as it may seem, we simply don't have neutral or "value-free" adjectives when it comes to personality. As a result, in describing others, we can't help but judge and evaluate them as well. Moreover, not only can descriptions never be impartial, but they also frequently reveal at least as much about the observer as they do about the "observed"!

As an illustration, let's say that two different observers, A and B, each with a different set of personal values, are asked to describe the exact same person. Notice how the words they use reflects their own subjective preferences and points of view.

"OBSERVER A"	"OBSERVER B"
greedy	ambitious
manipulative	persuasive
exhibitionistic	outgoing
unfeeling	nerves-of-steel
cowardly	self-protective
spineless	cooperative
wimpy	sweet

Ready to try a few on your own? Remember you are to select words that reflect Observer B's values (which are clearly more "positive" than Observer A's). (Some suggested responses appear below.)

"OBSERVER A"	"OBSERVER B"
immature	______________
manic	______________
weird	______________
failure	______________
dependent	______________
anal retentive	______________
thought disordered	______________
codependent	______________
narcissistic	______________

What's the moral? The language that people use invariably reflects their own preferences, tastes, biases, likes, and dislikes. As a result, identify how your own personal values influence the descriptive language that you use. Further, learn to recognize how OTHER people's use of language reflects their own values - and that the words they use can reveal at least as much about THEM as the individuals and events they are attempting to describe.

*NOTE: This brief exercise demonstrates one method of improving your thinking skills. If you are interested in learning about more techniques of critical thinking, see "TOOLS OF CRITICAL THINKING: METATHOUGHTS FOR PSYCHOLOGY," by David A. Levy.

(SUGGESTED RESPONSES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF "OBSERVER B")
immature - CHILDLIKE
manic - ENTHUSIASTIC
weird - INTERESTING
failure - LEARNING EXPERIENCE
dependent - LOYAL
anal retentive - TIDY
thought disordered - CREATIVE
codependent - CARING
narcissistic - HIGH IN SELF-ESTEEM