Self-Regulation

briefly answer each of the following prompts. For all instances where you are required to provide a definition, do not copy definitions from the text. Use your own words.
• Self-Regulation
o The textbook mentions the skill of self-regulation. How do you define this term? You may want to review Chapter 2 (to review critical thinking skills) before your write out your definition.
• Sytem-1 and System-2
o Define System-1 and System-2 thinking in your own words.
 Give an example from your personal or work life where you would use each of them, explaining why each is appropriate to the situation in which you use it.
• Heuristics
o Define "heuristic" in your own words.
 Give an example of a heuristic might be used in your personal or professional life and briefly show how it could have a positive or negative effect.
 Do not use examples found in the text.
• Dominance Structuring
o Explain the term "dominance structuring" in your own words.
o Is dominance structuring a positive or negative attribute of critical thinking? Explain.
 Use examples if that is helpful to your explanation.
• Cognitive Bias
o Briefly examine what part you think mastery of facts and understanding of data have in avoiding cognitive bias in System-1 thinking.

Full Answer Section

      Example of System-1 thinking:
  • Driving a car down a familiar road.
  • Deciding what to eat for breakfast.
  • Recognizing a friend's face.
Example of System-2 thinking:
  • Balancing your checkbook.
  • Writing a research paper.
  • Planning a vacation.
Heuristic: A heuristic is a mental shortcut that we use to make decisions quickly and efficiently. Heuristics can be very useful, but they can also lead to errors in judgment. Example of a heuristic:
  • Using the availability heuristic to estimate the likelihood of an event happening. For example, if you have recently seen a lot of news coverage about a particular type of crime, you may be more likely to overestimate the likelihood of that crime happening to you.
Positive effect of a heuristic:
  • Heuristics can help us to make decisions quickly and efficiently. For example, when we are driving, we use a number of heuristics to help us to navigate safely, such as the heuristic of staying in the right lane unless we are passing.
Negative effect of a heuristic:
  • Heuristics can lead to errors in judgment. For example, if we use the availability heuristic to estimate the likelihood of an event happening, we may overestimate the likelihood of rare events happening and underestimate the likelihood of common events happening.
Dominance Structuring: Dominance structuring is the process of giving priority to certain thoughts or ideas over others. It is a natural human tendency to try to simplify complex problems by focusing on a few key pieces of information. However, dominance structuring can also lead to us overlooking important information or making biased decisions. Is dominance structuring a positive or negative attribute of critical thinking? Dominance structuring can be both a positive and a negative attribute of critical thinking. On the one hand, dominance structuring can help us to make decisions quickly and efficiently. For example, when we are faced with a complex problem, we can use dominance structuring to identify the most important factors to consider. On the other hand, dominance structuring can also lead us to overlook important information or make biased decisions. For example, if we are too focused on one particular piece of information, we may miss other important information that could change our conclusions. Cognitive Bias: Cognitive bias is a mental shortcut that we use to make decisions quickly and efficiently, but it can lead to errors in judgment. Cognitive biases are often caused by our emotions, our past experiences, and our social conditioning. Example of a cognitive bias:
  • Confirmation bias: The tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs.
How mastery of facts and understanding of data can help avoid cognitive bias in System-1 thinking: Mastery of facts and understanding of data can help to avoid cognitive bias in System-1 thinking by making us more aware of the different ways that our biases can influence our thinking. When we have a good understanding of the facts and data, we are better able to identify and challenge our own biases. For example, if we know that we are prone to confirmation bias, we can be more careful to consider all of the evidence before making a decision. We can also try to seek out information from a variety of different sources, including sources that challenge our existing beliefs. By being aware of our biases and taking steps to mitigate them, we can improve the accuracy and reliability of our System-1 thinking.  

Sample Answer

   

Self-Regulation:

Self-regulation is the ability to control your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to achieve your goals. It is a complex skill that involves a number of different cognitive processes, such as attention, planning, and decision-making.

System-1 and System-2 Thinking:

System-1 and System-2 thinking are two distinct cognitive processes described by Daniel Kahneman in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

  • System-1 thinking is fast, intuitive, and automatic. It is the type of thinking that we use when we make quick decisions, such as deciding whether or not to cross the street when we see a car coming.
  • System-2 thinking is slow, deliberate, and effortful. It is the type of thinking that we use when we need to solve complex problems or make important decisions.