why is it important critical thinking

Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Matters

Defining critical thinking dispositions and why they’re crucial..

Posted September 23, 2024 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

• Another way to think about and measure critical thinking is to include aspects of motivational dispositions.
• Dispositions include open-mindedness and a willingness to be reflective when evaluating information.
• People scoring low in critical thinking dispositions tend to “keep it simple” when something is complex.
• Critical thinking dispositions help individuals avoid oversimplification and can facilitate awareness of bias.

Critical thinking springs from the notion of reflective thought proposed by Dewey (1933), who borrowed from the work of philosophers such as William James and Charles Peirce. Reflective thought was defined as the process of suspending judgment, remaining open-minded, maintaining a healthy skepticism, and taking responsibility for one’s own development (Gerber et al., 2005; Stoyanov & Kirshner, 2007).

Kurland (1995) suggested, “Critical thinking is concerned with reason, intellectual honesty, and open-mindedness, as opposed to emotionalism, intellectual laziness, and closed-mindedness. Thus, critical thinking involves… considering all possibilities… being precise; considering a variety of possible viewpoints and explanations; weighing the effects of motives and biases; being concerned more with finding the truth than with being right…being aware of one’s own prejudices and biases” (p. 3). Thus, being able to perspective-take and becoming conscious of one’s own biases are potential benefits of critical thinking capacities.

Reviews of the critical thinking literature (e.g., Bensley, 2023) suggest that the assessment of this construct ought to include aspects of motivational dispositions. Numerous frameworks of critical thinking dispositions have been proposed (e.g., Bensley, 2018; Butler & Halpern, 2019; Dwyer, 2017); some commonly identified dispositions are open-mindedness, intellectual engagement, and a proclivity to take a reflective stance or approach to evaluating information and the views and beliefs of both oneself and others. Demir (2022) posited that critical thinking dispositions reflect persons’ attitudes toward and routine ways of responding to new information and diverging ideas, willingness to engage in nuanced and complex rather than either/or reductionistic thinking, and perseverance in attempts to understand and resolve complex problems.

Other examples of dispositions are inquisitiveness, open-mindedness, tolerance for ambiguity, thinking about thinking, honesty in assessing or evaluating biases, and willingness to reconsider one’s own views and ways of doing things (Facione et al., 2001). Individual personality attributes associated with these proclivities include a need for cognition (a desire for intellectual stimulation), which is positively associated with critical thinking, and the need for closure (a motivated cognitive style in which individuals prefer predictability, firm answers, and rapid decision making ) and anti-intellectualism (a resentment of “the life of the mind” and those who represent it), both negatively associated with critical thinking.

Further, an ideological component that can impede critical thinking is dogmatism . In addition, rigid, dichotomous thinking impedes critical thinking in that it oversimplifies the complexity of social life in a pluralistic society (Bensley, 2023; Cheung et al., 2002; Halpern & Dunn, 2021) and tries to reduce complicated phenomena and resolve complex problems via “either/or” formulations and simplistic solutions.

In other words, folks with low critical thinking dispositions would tend to “keep it simple” when something is really quite complicated, and think it absolute terms and categories rather than seeing “the gray” in between the black and white extremes.

In sum, critical thinking dispositions are vitally important because they may help individuals avoid oversimplifying reality; they also permit perspective-taking and can facilitate their awareness of diversity and systematic biases, such as racial or gender bias . Some research has indicated that critical thinking dispositions uniquely contribute to academic performance beyond general cognition (Ren et al., 2020), and may help to reduce unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy beliefs (Bensley, 2023; Lantian et al., 2021).

But before we can study the potential impact of critical thinking dispositions, it is necessary to have a reliable, valid, and hopefully brief measure for this construct. I will discuss the development and validation of a measure of critical thinking dispositions in another post.

Bensley, D.A. ( 2023.) Critical thinking, intelligence, and unsubstantiated beliefs: An integrative review. Journal of Intelligence, 1 , 207. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11110207

Bensley, D.A. (2018). Critical thinking in psychology and everyday life: A guide to effective thinking . New York: Worth Publishers.

Butler, H.A., & Halpern, D.F. (2019). Is critical thinking a better model of intelligence? In Robert J. Sternberg (Ed.) The Nature of Intelligence (pp. 183–96). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Cheung, C.-K, Rudowicz. E., Kwan, A., & Yue, X.. (2002). Assessing university students’ general and specific criticalthinking. College Student Journal, 36 , 504 – 25.

Demir, E. (2022). An examination of high school students’ critical thinking dispositions and analytical thinking skills. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 6 , 190–200. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202217357

Dewey, J. (1933). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process . Lexington: Heath and Company.

Dwyer, C. P. (2017). Critical thinking: Conceptual perspectives and practical guidelines . Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press.

Facione, P., Facione, N,C,, & Giancarlo, C.A.F. (2001(. California Critical Disposition Inventory . Millbrae: California Academic Press.

Gerber, S., Scott, L., Clements, D.H., & Sarama, J. (2005). Instructor influence on reasoned argument in discussion boards. Educational Technology, Research & Development, 53 , 25–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504864

Halpern, D. F., & Dunn, D.S. (2021). Critical thinking: A model of intelligence for solving real-world problems. Journal of Intelligence, 9 , 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence9020022

Kurland, D. (1995). I know what it says… What does it mean? Critical skills for critical reading . Belmont: Wadsworth.

Lantian, A., Bagneux, V., Delouvee, S., & Gauvrit, N. (2021). Maybe a free thinker but not a critical one: High conspiracybelief is associated with low critical thinking ability. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 35 , 674 – 84. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3790

Ren, X., Tong, Y., Peng, P. & Wang, T. (2020). Critical thinking predicts academic performance beyond general cognitiveability: Evidence from adults and children. Intelligence, 82 , 101487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2020.101487

Stoyanov, S., & Kirschner, P. ( 2007). Effect of problem solving support and cognitive styles on idea generation:Implications for technology-enhanced learning. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 40 , 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2007.10782496

Kyle D. Killian, Ph.D., LMFT is the author of Interracial Couples, Intimacy and Therapy: Crossing Racial Borders.

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Why is Critical Thinking Important in Psychology: Unveiling Its Role in Understanding Human Behavior

By   Joshua Turner

October 30, 2024

Critical thinking is a foundational skill in psychology, instrumental for both practitioners and researchers. In this field, where the subject matter spans the complexity of human behavior and mental processes, the ability to evaluate information critically is vital. Critical thinking involves disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence. It requires psychologists to not just gather information, but to scrutinize and analyze it from different angles to make informed decisions and develop sound theories.

In the realm of psychology, critical thinking isn’t just an academic exercise—it has practical, real-world applications. For clinicians, it enables the careful diagnosis and treatment of patients. For researchers, it underpins the design of studies and the interpretation of data . Psychology thrives on a continuous cycle of hypothesis, observation, and analysis. Without critical thinking, the field would lack the rigorous methodologies necessary to unravel the intricacies of the human mind and behavior. Understanding the importance of critical thinking in psychology is to recognize the very engine that propels the discipline forward, ensuring its growth remains rooted in scientific inquiry and objective analysis.

Key Takeaways

• Critical thinking in psychology ensures the rigorous analysis of information and evidence.
• It is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings.
• Critical thinking drives the scientific rigor in psychological research and theoretical development.

Fundamentals of Critical Thinking in Psychology

Critical thinking in psychology is a foundational skill that allows you to objectively evaluate information and formulate reasoned judgments. It involves several key components:

• Questioning Assumptions: You must challenge preconceived notions and consider alternative explanations.
• Analyzing Arguments: Examine the evidence and reasoning behind claims.
• Applying Logic: Ensure that your conclusions follow logically from the given data.

Skills for Critical Thinking

To cultivate critical thinking in psychology, you should develop the following skills:

• Observation: Carefully observe behavior and phenomena without biases.
• Analysis: Break down complex information into understandable components.
• Inference: Draw conclusions from the evidence at hand.
• Evaluation: Assess the reliability and validity of data and research.
• Explanation: Articulate reasons for conclusions clearly and coherently.

Practice Areas

Your practice of critical thinking should be evident in multiple areas:

• Research methodologies
• Psychological theories
• Real-life applications

Your application of critical thinking skills in psychology is not just academic but also practical, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and decision-making in everyday life. Remember, in the realm of psychology, critical thinking isn’t an optional skill—it’s essential for a nuanced understanding of human behavior and mental processes.

Components of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking in psychology is grounded in several key components, each vital to processing information cogently and effectively.

You must be able to articulate thoughts and questions clearly. Vagueness is an enemy to understanding, so it’s important you seek to remove ambiguities.

Your observations should be checked and rechecked for precision. Relevant data should support claims, and your interpretations must correspond with the evidence.

It’s crucial for you to provide sufficient detail. Precision eliminates the risk of making decisions based on generalizations that may not be applicable in every situation.

A key component is ensuring information is pertinent to the question at hand. Irrelevant data can lead to misleading conclusions.

Explore the complexity of the issues. Superficial analysis might miss underlying factors that are significant to the understanding of a phenomenon.

Consider multiple perspectives . Canvassing a wide range of viewpoints ensures a holistic approach rather than a narrow one.

Your reasoning must be coherent and structured. The conclusions you draw should logically stem from the premises you have established.

Maintain an objective stance. Personal biases should not cloud your judgement or the interpretation of data.

With these building blocks, you construct a foundation for robust and critical analysis in the domain of psychology.

Application in Psychological Research

In psychological research, your role as a critical thinker directly impacts the quality and integrity of scientific inquiries. Critical thinking enables you to evaluate hypotheses , analyze data, and scrutinize methodologies efficiently.

• Identify Biases : You need to recognize personal and experimenter biases that may skew results.
• Assess Methods : You ascertain the appropriateness of research designs and question their underlying assumptions.
• Interpret Results : When interpreting results, you must distinguish between correlation and causation responsibly.

For example, when you encounter a study, critically examine the sample size and diversity. A small or non-representative sample can lead to incorrect generalizations.

Data Analysis :

• Reliability : You check the consistency of measurements across multiple observations.
• Validity : You ensure that the tests measure what they intend to.

Moreover, peer review is a process where your critical thinking is indispensable. Here, you scrutinize another researcher’s work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring the research is rigorous before publication.

When applying critical thinking in psychological research, remember that your ultimate goal is to contribute to a body of work characterized by robust, reproducible findings. Your scrutiny and methodical skepticism are vital in paving the way for advancements in the field.

Critical Thinking in Clinical Settings

In clinical psychology, your ability to think critically is imperative. It allows you to assess, diagnose, and treat clients effectively . During the diagnostic process, you need to differentiate between symptoms of various psychological disorders. Critical thinking ensures that you consider all possible factors and do not jump to conclusions.

For example, when you encounter a client displaying symptoms of depression, it is crucial to consider:

• Medical history : Could symptoms be related to a physical ailment?
• Environmental factors : Is there an external cause contributing to their state?
• Psychological assessment : Do standardized tests support your initial thoughts?

In treatment planning , you need to evaluate the efficacy of different therapy approaches. Your approach should be grounded in empirical evidence and tailored to your client’s unique situation. This might involve comparing:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy

Follow-up is another critical element. You assess the effectiveness of treatment over time, often involving:

• Regularly scheduled sessions
• Adjusting treatment plans as needed
• Monitoring progress with measurable goals

Your role in preventing misdiagnosis is significant. Overlooking critical information or failing to consider alternative explanations can lead to improper treatment, which could harm the client. With a solid foundation in critical thinking, you become more adept at navigating these complex clinical landscapes, ensuring your clients receive the highest standard of care.

Role in Theoretical Development

Critical thinking is pivotal in shaping and refining psychological theories. When you employ critical thinking, you’re better equipped to assess existing theories and contribute novel insights. Psychological theories evolve through a process of formulation, testing, and revision. This process demands your critical evaluation to determine if explanations of behaviors and mental processes are logically consistent and empirically supported.

• Formulation : Theories start as hypotheses that explain phenomena. It’s essential for you to question underlying assumptions and the validity of arguments.
• Testing : Theories must be rigorously tested through empirical research. Your critical approach is crucial in designing studies, interpreting data, and ruling out alternative explanations.
• Revision : Theories are not static; they’re revised based on new evidence. You need to apply critical thinking to integrate new information and refine theoretical models.

Your critical analysis also helps to prevent the perpetuation of biases and ensures the theory’s practical applicability. The integrity and utility of psychological theories largely depend on your consistent and careful application of critical thinking throughout the theoretical development process.

Education and Critical Thinking Skills Development

In your pursuit of a solid foundation in psychology, developing your critical thinking skills through education is paramount. Within academic settings, you are nurtured to evaluate arguments , discern valid evidence, and construct well-founded conclusions.

Structured Learning :

• Courses in psychology provide a deep dive into theories, offering you frameworks for understanding human behavior.
• You’re encouraged to challenge presumptions and consider alternative interpretations.
• Laboratory and field research experiences allow you to apply theoretical knowledge, fostering analytical skills .
• Ethically designed experiments reinforce the principles of scientific inquiry .

Skill Acquisition :

• You learn to identify assumptions and appraise the strength of evidence and reasoning.
• Education emphasizes the importance of basing decisions on empirical data rather than intuition alone.
• You’ll practice making judgments under conditions of uncertainty .

Peer Interaction :

• Group projects and discussions offer diverse perspectives, enhancing your interpersonal understanding .
• You become adept at communicating complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

These elements, integral to your education in psychology, culminate in your ability to think critically. Your academic journey develops not just knowledge but also the intellectual rigor required for psychology. Such critical thinking prowess is essential for both your professional endeavors and personal growth.

Challenges in Fostering Critical Thinking

Your ability to think critically is foundational in psychology, but fostering this skill does not come without its challenges. One notable difficulty is the overabundance of information . With numerous research studies, theories, and data, you may struggle to distinguish what is relevant and reliable.

Another obstacle is personal bias . As you come with your own preconceived notions and beliefs, they can cloud your judgment and interpretation of psychological data. This is why being aware of these biases and attempting to control for them is crucial.

Educational systems sometimes focus on memorization over critical thinking. You may have been taught to prioritize the right answers rather than the process of questioning and analyzing to reach conclusions.

Here’s a breakdown of potential barriers:

• Cognitive Overload : Too much information can overwhelm your decision-making capabilities.
• Emotional Influences : Strong emotions can impact your objectivity.
• Passive Learning : A lack of active engagement in the learning process can stifle the development of critical thinking skills.
• Resource Limitations : Access to quality educational materials and training may be limited.

To foster critical thinking effectively in psychology, you must navigate these challenges deliberately and skillfully.

Future Directions in Critical Thinking

In psychology, critical thinking is an essential skill that will continue to evolve. As you look to the future, anticipate shifts in how these skills are taught, applied, and valued across various domains in psychology.

Teaching Methods :

• Innovations in educational technology will likely enhance how you engage with critical thinking principles.
• Gamification : Interactive platforms where you can practice problem-solving in simulated real-world scenarios.
• Personalized Learning : AI-driven programs may offer custom exercises that match your skill level and learning pace.

Application in Research :

• You may witness an increase in the prevalence of critical thinking in experimental design and interpretation.
• Diverse Perspectives : Interdisciplinary research teams will encourage you to consider multiple viewpoints.
• Ethics : A persistent emphasis on ethical considerations in studies will challenge you to apply critical thinking to balance scientific inquiry with moral responsibility.

Professional Development :

• Critical thinking will be a key competence in your professional growth within psychology.
• Continued Education : Expect more workshops and seminars dedicated to enhancing these skills throughout your career.
• Certifications : New credentials may emerge to formally recognize your expertise in critical thinking.

Technology’s Role :

• Advanced analytical tools will aid you in distilling complex psychological data, but they will also require you to critically assess their findings.
• Algorithms in Diagnosis : While technology may assist in diagnostic processes, you must critically evaluate and interpret algorithmic recommendations.
• Embrace your role in monitoring and shaping these algorithms to prevent biases and ensure they are used ethically.

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Importance of critical thinking: 13 compelling reasons

Not in the mood to read the full article? Listen to the audio podcast episode below .

What does critical thinking mean to you? The ability to think critically is an important skill to have, but not everyone is good at it. Some people think critically in certain situations, but their thinking becomes muddy in other situations. What’s important is that we can all learn this skill, which will help us make sound decisions.

Today’s workplace emphasizes data-driven decision-making, which makes critical thinking a skill more important than ever. The skill, however, is also vital to your personal life. We’ll discuss the importance of critical thinking in everyday life in this article. 

 So, what is critical thinking? Critical thinking can be defined as the mental process of analyzing and evaluating ideas and drawing logical conclusions. Before you start to apply critical thinking skills, this article dives deeper into understanding the importance of critical thinking as a soft skill.

Table of Contents

Listen to the audio article.

“Why Is Critical Thinking Important?”; listen to the audio cast of the full article on Anchor podcasts.

The importance of Critical thinking explained

It is crucial to think critically in this day and age because so much information is available. To figure out what is true and isn’t, you need to think critically and process information.

When you think critically, you make healthy, informed decisions based on facts rather than faulty assumptions. Think about how often you’ve made a decision based on emotion or gut instinct alone. These types of decisions can lead to unhealthy lifestyles, dire financial situations, unsound investments, and much more. 

Success in your personal and professional life depends on strong critical thinking abilities. So how do you improve your critical thinking? Here are some ways that can help you become a better critical thinker. Collectively these reasons illustrate why this skill is so valuable in everyday situations. 

1. Overcoming negative thinking

Critical thinking is dependent on self-confidence. You cannot critically analyze anything if you don’t believe in yourself to make the best decisions. You have to be able to assess situations and make decisions based on your end goals. 

 Making progress will be difficult if you are constantly doubting yourself. Low self-confidence makes people make less optimal decisions since they don’t think they can achieve better results. 

Becoming more confident allows you to think more critically in order to make better decisions. In addition, it negates the negative thoughts we usually have when making a decision.

2. Getting over biases

The way people make decisions is influenced by cognitive biases. This is evident when people have to choose between two options. Usually, we believe we come to an evidence-based conclusion on our own since it feels more natural to us. However, it is possible that our personal bias overshadowed the facts and truth.

However, the choice of one decision over another may not have been based on any logical reasoning. Most of the time, we make critical decisions based on biases rather than what is most optimal under the given circumstances.

It is important to be able to gather information about an issue and analyze it critically in order to challenge our own beliefs. This involves looking at your information sources objectively and determining their biases. Also, verifying the reliability of those sources with sufficient proof without depending on the face value. 

Only by doing this can one form an informed opinion on an issue and effectively engage with others in meaningful dialogue about it.

3. Improving your decision-making

Our senses allow us to critically evaluate what we see, hear, feel, smell, and read. Our mental faculties get energized and work at their best when we think critically. Whenever something doesn’t add up or doesn’t seem right, a critical thinker wants to figure out why.

Better decision-making comes from this kind of analytical thinking combined with strategic thinking; it can make people more productive and decisive.

4. Self-reflection

This means looking inward and questioning one’s own motivations, values, and beliefs. It allows people to analyze their thoughts more deeply. Although it can be uncomfortable, it is essential for growth. Without self-reflection, we are at risk of becoming stuck in our ways and resistant to change.

5. Evaluating multiple options

Critical thinking can help you solve problems more efficiently by focusing on one thing at a time. When analyzing options, you need to analyze them individually. 

 For example, Suppose you want to pick up groceries today. In that case, you have to consider everything else you have scheduled for the day, the peak time at the grocery store, the best time to get fresh produce, the availability of parking, etc. So you compare the time slots available to get to the store with these variables.

6. Gathering information from multiple sources

Critical thinking allows you to approach problems rationally. As we discussed earlier, a critical thinker approaches problems differently from those who do not possess this skill, such as gathering all relevant information from several sources before deciding.

It requires creativity, curiosity, and open-mindedness, as we must be open to new ideas and willing to look beyond what we already know. By doing so, we can see what really matters and cut through the noise.

7. Improving your ability to manage emotions

Critical thinking can provide you with effective tools for managing your emotions. You can use the skill to deal with your emotions more effectively. If you know how your emotions influence how you process information, you can learn to control these impulses before they affect your decisions.

 The key to making smart decisions is taming your emotions. Consider getting an email from your favourite brand offering a 70% discount. Your first thought may be to at the store on your way home. When you think critically, you will first check to see if you actually need more clothes this month before buying any.  

 Let’s say you were thinking about buying a new jacket.  Next, you would see whether jackets are included in the promotion. If they are, you should quickly check if there is any budget left this month to spend on clothing. If not, you might consider waiting until the next promotion is available.

8. Boosting your creativity

It’s easy to take a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach when you don’t have all the facts. That leads to mistakes, wasted time, and lost opportunities. With critical thinking, you can separate your emotions from your decisions to make more accurate choices that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes. 

Critical thinking helps you to be creative and think in unconventional ways. That could be the reason why some tech companies hire philosophy majors for their product development teams.

9. Building your character

Critical thinking skills can help you build your personality. Therefore, we must train ourselves to think in a structured way in order to develop our critical thinking skills. Although this may seem counter-intuitive, it will improve our judgment and decision-making skills in the long run. 

A critical thinker analyzes information objectively and logically. This means considering all the evidence and forming an unbiased opinion. Consequently, you can become more open-minded and open to new solutions that may push you out of your comfort zone.

Critical thinking also helps sharpen our judgment. The more confident we are in our ability to make better decisions, the less likely we are to be swayed by others. This will make our lives more fulfilling.  

10. Expanding your mental capacity

It makes us smarter. We’re better at remembering information than people who don’t use critical thinking skills. We can learn new things faster when we use critical thinking.

Spending a little extra time on something helps us remember it long-term. Our mental faculties improve when we use more mental energy to evaluate and weigh different options for a problem or opportunity.

11. Breaking bigger problems into smaller ones

Breaking down larger problems into smaller ones requires critical thinking. When faced with a huge problem, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Taking a step back and assessing the situation critically can help you break it down into smaller pieces.

It will give you a better idea of what you’re up against and how to deal with it. Once you have a better grasp of the situation, you can start developing smaller solutions that will eventually lead to solving the larger problem.

12. Learning new things quicker

The process of critical thinking makes it easier to learn new things. It’s about looking at things differently and finding out what’s really going on. We can learn faster and better this way.

Let’s say you’re learning a new language. It will be challenging and time-consuming to just memorize the basic syntax. With critical thinking, you can break down the parts of speech into their sub-components and understand how it all fits together. Critical thinking enhances language learning ability.

It is generally considered a necessary skill when learning any scientific subject. The World Federation for Medical Education, for example, has listed critical thinking as one of the medical training standards .

13. Positively improving relationships

Many people view critical thinking as a cold, calculating process. However, it can actually be quite valuable in our personal relationships. By critically examining our beliefs and assumptions about others, we are more likely to become tolerant and understanding. 

As humans, we tend to view things through our own limited lenses. However, we can see things from a different perspective when we think critically.

This type of thinking and communication can help build strong relationships and resolve conflicts. Critical thinking can help us build more fulfilling relationships.

Critical thinking vs strategic thinking

A critical thinker is able to think clearly and rationally while understanding logical connections between ideas. They can evaluate arguments and data and make informed decisions. On the other hand, strategic thinking is the ability to see the big picture and understand how the pieces fit together. 

When you draw inferences from information, break down facts and ideas based on their merits, or analyze trends over time, that’s strategic thinking. In order to be successful, businesses need both critical and strategic thinkers. 

While critical thinkers provide detailed analysis to enable sound decisions, strategic thinkers help identify long-term opportunities and challenges. These two types of thinking can be combined to make better decisions that lead to long-term success.

Final thoughts

You can’t overemphasize the importance of critical thinking. It is vital that we develop critical thinking in the modern world since it is absolutely essential to both our personal and career growth. It helps us stop seeing people in conflict as adversaries and work together.

Making successful decisions requires critical thinking skills. It entails analyzing information objectively and logically, considering all evidence, and coming to an unbiased conclusion. 

It also helps build one’s character and promotes creativity. It increases mental capacity and promotes smart approaches. 

In addition, breaking down a bigger problem into smaller pieces and understanding how the pieces fit together require critical thinking. The knowledge economy is all about finding solutions to problems. That’s why businesses need critical thinkers to find creative solutions.

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