Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Media Psychologist, and Author
Memoir Writing, Blogging, and Ghostwriting​
Weekly Doses of Pop-up Psych
We all make cringey mistakes and deserve to move on, rather than feel confused or regretful after an icky social situation. Each week, I will dissect a murky social, life cycle, or pop culture topic to help you understand, learn, and move on. As a former academic, I am a super-picky consumer of research (and you should be too) as well as the content I create and share, so those new solutions, data and/or additional resources have certainly met my approval.
Gray Thinking: The Power of Thinking Critically to Form Your Own Political Values
We live in a world where it’s common for an individual to identify with more than one gender, race, religion, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and set of traditions, so why do our political values have to be so black and white? Like a mathematics rule, if you believe this, you are that or if you don’t support this, it means you must feel that way. Thankfully, humans are not as linear and simple as the math equation below.
We’re Humans, not AI, So Why Are We So Black and White?
Presently, it seems like you are either a Democrat or Republican, on the Left or the Right, feel this way or that, accept this or reject that, as well as love this or hate that. Are we just going with the flow or stopping to critically think about how we feel a certain way?
Humans are complex adaptive creatures with different lived experiences, information, and influences. Although ChatGPT has its strengths, it does not produce output based on human experiences.
Gray Thinking is Actually Very Colorful
A few months ago, I wrote about what would have been my 20th wedding anniversary as a Gray Day. Usually divorced people shun their former wedding anniversary, but I felt a jolt of joy, despite not celebrating the traditional way. I accepted the complexity that it was still a happy day, despite not toasting a marriage. It wasn’t an all or nothing situation for that date by either celebrating or avoiding. I celebrated my own way by honoring what came out of that day.
Gray Thinking shows you are authentic.
Authenticity comes from your own motivations, rather than living up to others’ expectations. You might share beliefs with them, but express it your way instead of doing what they do.
Gray Thinking is critical thinking.
Critical thinking is one of the most highly valued traits in today’s workforce. Could you imagine if we said “yes” to everything without proper evaluation? We would be ignoring issues that need solutions. Creative problem solving is certainly savvier than doing what someone else does.
Gray Thinking shows confidence.
It’s easy to value and believe alongside others because they think for you. Forming your own values, thoughts and opinions isn’t always popular, so it takes confidence to stand in your own corner and deal with possible backlash.
Gray Thinking is shifting perspective.
We value and believe something based on backgrounds, circumstances, and with whatever information we have at the moment. However, it can change when presented with and exposed to new situations and information. Change helps us evolve, because old ways of thinking might not help us survive in current times.
Which political values are Gray for you?
Hi Beautiful Readers and thank you for reading this! I'm Dr. Joanne Broder, Media Psychologist, Author, and Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Please consider me to help you write your memoir, blogs, speeches, e-books, as well as coach you on your dissertation or thesis. Click here so we can connect!