Critical thinking is not only an important part of reading and designing research, it is an important skill in our everyday lives. It is important to identify our strengths and weaknesses in our own thinking and how this can lead to cognitive distortions. Under the Course Materials folder in Week 1, you will find power point slides covering the 25 Standards of Critical Thinking, a document about cognitive distortions, and other materials that you will need to use to respond to the prompt. When discussing the standards, be sure to write out the entire standard. Select one of the standards of critical thinking and discuss how it is one of your strengths and how you use it in your everyday life. How this will be an asset in your work as a therapist? Select one standard of critical thinking that is your weakness and how this could challenge you in your work as a therapist. Discuss how this weakness is related to one of the cognitive distortions in the document provided under Week 1. Clearly identify the cognitive distortion. Using the Ted Talk video under Week 1, and any other resources that you find on your own, discuss how you think you can improve your weakest standard of critical thinking during this class. Standard 3 People who think critically recognize that all thinking is based on some data, information, evidence, experience, or research (Paul & Elder, 2007, p. 19). (STRENGTH) COGNITIVE DISTORTION: CONTROL ERROR – There are two opposing ways of distorting the view of control. Individuals may see themselves as totally helpless and sees other reasons for failure, pain, or loss. On the other side of the coin, individuals may feel totally responsible for everything. They see themselves as totally responsible for their own and others’ happiness. For example, a person believes there is nothing that can be done to get them out of a negative situation. Standard 15 People who think critically learn to work through complexities and frustration without giving up (Paul & Elder, 2007, p. 30). (WEAKNESS)
