As distrust and misinformation continue to grow rapidly, it’s getting increasingly difficult to process the information we’re presented with. This is scary, especially given we’re in the information age. Cue healthy skepticism, an easy way to fight disinformation and bias.
Why should you be skeptical?
While it’s true that information has never been easier to acquire, there are a lot of bad actors with amplified voices. With conspiracies and fake news taking center stage on our feeds, deciphering fact from fiction is now seen as a battle of whose opinion is the “right” take.
But just because we may want something to be true, doesn’t mean it is. Just because we may like someone’s overall message or feel strongly about them as a person, we can’t believe everything someone says at face value. Therefore, we need the proper tools to be able to handle perceiving and digesting information – regardless of the source.
After all, cognitive dissonance can take hold of anyone! When we cling to preconceived thoughts and are presented with new information that isn’t aligned with our thinking, it’s natural to want to reject the new information. This isn’t productive, though. So, that’s why I want to urge you to utilize healthy skepticism!
What is healthy skepticism?
When we get stuck in our ways it’s easy to cling to anything that lets you get sucked deeper into your view. But blind reliance is risky and can lead to ignorance. So, employing healthy skepticism means you accept new information, not because it validates your views, but because you sought out evidence to back up the claim before you accepted it.
As members of a productive society, we must strive to further our understanding and gain more complete knowledge. When presented with new information, don’t just arbitrarily accept or dismiss the claims made. We must be productively skeptical and examine available evidence before reaching a decision on whether to reject or accept the information.
Being skeptical doesn’t mean you should doubt the validity of everything, though, and it doesn’t mean you should be cynical. Instead, you need to judge the validity of a claim based on objective evidence. We need to take charge and withhold judgment until sufficient evidence is presented. This allows us to consider all possibilities while remaining impartial. Healthy skepticism, therefore, allows us to reach logical conclusions that are backed by unbiased evidence.
Good science adheres to healthy skepticism.
This is why the scientific method is so amazing, as science begins with healthy skepticism! A scientist approaches problems believing the question under investigation is not true, this is called the null hypothesis.
Failure to reject the null hypothesis doesn’t mean the hypothesis is false, but instead that the current information does not make it certain that the hypothesis is true. It’s only when there is plenty of accurate information that we can reject the null. This makes it so the burden of truth is on the person making the claim.
Problem solving in this way makes it so truth is nurtured by unbiased thought. Clarity and straightforwardness make truths powerful and easy to test. So, it’s not the job of the skeptic to disprove a claim. But we should always be seeking the truth. Therefore, we should demonstrate healthy skepticism to do so!
Don’t confuse skepticism with denial.
Denial is when you cling to an idea or belief despite mounting evidence disproving your view. The people who question scientists, not because they demand better practices or better information, but because the science doesn’t reinforce their views are in denial.
When faced with drastic change, it’s not unusual for people to deny bad news to cope but denial is counter-productive. Denial prevents appropriate planning and timely action that might delay or lessen the severity of change. Many can fall into the trap of believing they are being a healthy skeptic when they are actually in denial, so we must educate ourselves and examine our biases to avoid denial pitfalls.
Healthy skepticism leads to positive change.
Science is always open to revision; this is how we advance our ideas. Being comfortable talking impartially and being objective in everyday life helps us further our own intellect by creating space to expand our ideas. Detaching ourselves from our biases allows us room to grow and therefore be more productive and inclusive.
We want to be informed, but we must be properly informed. Being productively skeptical allows us to remain objective and think critically about problems presented to us. Therefore, healthy skepticism gives us proper space to problem-solve and collaborate!
In order to promote positive change, we must be able to talk impartially about facts, ideas, and different viewpoints. Being a healthy skeptic will help cut through climate denial agendas and rhetoric designed to set us back. Healthy skepticism demands evidence while protecting us from manipulation, so being a healthy skeptic will help you become aware of biases and potential bad practices from other parties.
How to be a healthy skeptic:
First, you must be aware.
Cultivate your ability to check yourself! Are you demonstrating healthy skepticism or are you being willfully ignorant? Being able to recognize potential biases and listen to all sides of a story will not only give you a complete view but also help you determine the best course of action.
Second, you must do your own research.
Develop your critical thinking skills by getting curious and continuously learning. Doing so will give you the tools to reflect on knowledge or insights others may present you and lead you away from being in denial if your current knowledge is contradicted. We must interrogate knowledge by looking critically at facts and data with our own eyes.
Now, I know that this can be hard, so I encourage you to seek out tools to develop research literacy. I created this platform as a way to break down complex ecological and sustainability topics, so I’m super aware of the disconnect between research and the public. I’m always open to feedback and ideas, so feel free to reach out if there is a topic you’d like me to cover!
If not, there are so many other creators who are good actors in their industries who can help you find and understand good research. Generally, I suggest seeking out unbiased news sources, information sites like ScienceDaily, or accredited industry experts on platforms like Substack that don’t gatekeep their information.
Once you start learning how to read and understand research and science content, it does get easier. So, don’t be discouraged, and if you find it hard to do your own research, then utilize appropriately trained people who can synthesize information accurately as a resource.
Third, don’t accept things at face value.
Skepticism creates a space for accountability. So, diving deeper into information makes it harder to act on your emotions. Instead, you’ll be able to think rationally and quantitatively about whether the information is reliable before being persuaded.
Fourth, be critical of the information you consume.
Trust is important, but too much trust can lead to a narrow worldview, just like how too much skepticism can lead to denial. Therefore, it’s important you don’t blindly trust your sources. Even with good intentions, people can lead others astray.
We need to educate ourselves and learn which sources are to be trusted and which aren’t. We must assess the quality of our sources and the quality of our reasoning. Avoid anecdotal and personal evidence in favor of true science, which has quantifiable results that can be replicated.
Be a skeptic but don’t be in denial.
Healthy skepticism is a great tool, so get comfortable with asking questions while staying mindful of potential bias. Keep an open mind when presented with new ideas but take things with a grain of salt until you can see the information for yourself. Be skeptical until you know the whole picture.
Don’t let yourself be easily convinced by things, but also don’t shut down when presented with new information. Challenge yourself, get curious, and recognize that knowledge is power. Be skeptical of what you presume to know and be skeptical when presented with new information, but use this guide on how to use healthy skepticism to do so in a way that will foster growth and positive change.