Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Final Exam
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Metacognition
I think this is the most valuable concept we're learning all semester. So if you read any links, I hope it's these two:
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Open-Minded
Changing your mind has gotten a bum rap lately: flip-flopping can kill a political career. But willingness to change your mind is an important intellectual virtue that is valued by scientists.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wooden-Headed
Getting us to care is the real goal of this class. We should care about good evidence. We should care about evidence and arguments because they get us closer to the truth. When we judge an argument to be overall good, THE POWER OF LOGIC COMPELS US to believe the conclusion. If we are presented with decent evidence for some claim, but still stubbornly disagree with this claim, we are just being irrational. Worse, we're effectively saying that the truth doesn't matter to us.
This means we should be open-minded. We should be willing to challenge ourselves, and let new evidence change our current beliefs. We should be open to the possibility that we've currently gotten something wrong. This is how comedian Todd Glass puts it:
Here are the first two paragraphs of a great article I read last year on this:
Ironically, having extreme confidence in oneself is often a sign of ignorance. Remember, in many cases, such stubborn certainty is unwarranted.Last week, I jokingly asked a health club acquaintance whether he would change his mind about his choice for president if presented with sufficient facts that contradicted his present beliefs. He responded with utter confidence. "Absolutely not," he said. "No new facts will change my mind because I know that these facts are correct."
I was floored. In his brief rebuttal, he blindly demonstrated overconfidence in his own ideas and the inability to consider how new facts might alter a presently cherished opinion. Worse, he seemed unaware of how irrational his response might appear to others. It's clear, I thought, that carefully constructed arguments and presentation of irrefutable evidence will not change this man's mind.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
When Status Quo Isn't Good Enough
- If it already exists, we assume it's good.
- Our mind works like a computer that depends on cached responses to thoughtlessly complete common patterns.
- NYU psychologist John Jost does a lot of work on system justification theory: our tendency to unconsciously rationalize the status quo, especially unjust social institutions. Scarily, those of us oppressed by such institutions have a stronger tendency to justify their existence.
- Jost has a new book on this stuff. Here's a video dialogue about his research:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Let's All Nonconform Together
- On the influence of your in-groups and the formation of your identity: "If you want to set yourself apart from other people, you have to do things that are arbitrary, and believe things that are false." (from Paul Graham's "Lies We Tell Our Kids.")
- Here's a summary of two recent studies which suggest that partisan mindset stems from a feeling of moral superiority.
- Here's that poll showing the Republican-Democrat switcharoo regarding their opinion of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke when the executive office changed parties.
- Our political loyalties also influence our view on the economy.
- Here's an article about a cool study on the relationship between risk and provincialism.
- Conformity hurts the advancement of science.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Homework #3
- First, very briefly explain the argument that the ad offers to sell its product.
- Then, list and explain the mistakes in reasoning that the ad commits.
- Then, list and explain the psychological ploys the ad uses (what psychological impediments does the ad try to exploit?).
- Attach (if it's from a newspaper) or briefly explain the ad.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Course Evaluations
As you may have heard, course evaluations are now being done online. Here are instructions to do this for your Fall 2009 classes:
1. Go to http://cp.rowan.edu/cp/.
2. Click "Student Self-Service" icon.
3. Click "Access Banner Services - Secure Area - login Required."
4. Enter User ID and PIN.
5. Click "Personal Information."
6. Click "Answer a Survey."
7. Click on one of the student evaluations for your classes.
8. Complete the student evaluation.
9. Click “Survey Complete” to submit your completed student evaluation.
10. Repeat for other Fall 2009 classes.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wished Pots Never Boil
- If you're a fan of The Secret, you should beware that it's basic message is wishful thinking run amok.
- Teachers have biases, too: we're self-serving and play favorites.
- Why don't we give more aid to those in need? Psychological impediments are at least partly to blame.
- Why do we believe medical myths (like "vitamin C cures the common cold," or "you should drink 8 glasses of water a day")? Psychological impediments, of course!