Absolute certainty shuts down critical thinking and discounting all other information is highly dangerous. Our democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry and very few things in life are certain. Therefore, we need to be aware of being trapped in certainty and groupthink.
According to Wikipedia, groupthink can result in
- irrational or dysfunctional decision-making
- decisions without critical evaluation
- avoidance of controversial issues or alternative solutions
- loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking
- inflated sense of certainty within the in-group while dismissing all comments or opinions of the out-group
- the production of dehumanizing actions against the out-group
- deviant behavior by religious cults
Be open-minded and listen to both sides. Question your certainties. You may not have all the right answers. I know I don’t.
This blog was inspired by the book Unfollow written by Megan Phelps-Roper who was born into the controversial Westboro Baptist Church and then left as a young adult after questioning her certainties.
reilly m gray 