Skepticism: Why There Needs to Be More Skeptical Thinking in Psychology

By Gary Dankock

Skepticism has been criticized, ironically, and optimism has been glorified beyond all reason. There are sub-cults in the self-help industry that will judge anyone who questions the claims of gurus, and there are many people who are afraid to doubt the things they are told. Today, we need more skepticism in science and psychology. We need people who don’t take claims as truth when they have not been fully proven.



So, in an answer to the question: Why skepticism? I say, because it can help us think clearly, be more realistic, and have better results in life. In this guide, we will focus on just that. We will also touch on why skepticism isn’t always the same as pessimism or cynicism, and how we should rewire our brains to think more independently and intelligently.



Join these thought processes today by reading or listening to this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anonymous
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9791220222495

Book preview

Skepticism

Why There Needs to Be More Skeptical Thinking in Psychology

By Gary Dankock

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why Skepticism?

Chapter 2: Skepticism Can Help You Think More Plainly

Chapter 3: Skeptics, Cynics and Pessimists

Chapter 4: Psychology Frantically Needs an Enormous Increase of Skepticism

Chapter 1: Why Skepticism?

Twenty years ago, I became actively involved in the skeptical movement when I and some others founded a simple regional skeptical group. We were inspired by CSICOP (now CSI) and Doubtful Inquirer to add what we could to efforts to make the world a more skeptical place.

Over the past 20 years, the skeptical landscape has changed a fair bit, but one constant has been the unlimited question: What is skepticism? What exactly do we do and why? As the movement has grown and diversified, the question has become only more complicated.

What Is the Mission of the Skeptical Movement?

I have come to comprehend that scientific skepticism is a strange monster that's usually tough to understand, particularly from the outside. We aren't exactly scientists or reporters or lobbyists or educators, and yet we are all of those things to some degree.

I think the best way to explain scientific skepticism is that it is proficiency in every little thing that can fail with science and belief, and it includes execution, communication, education, and control. It combines knowledge of science, philosophy, and critical thinking with special know-how in problematic reasoning and deceptiveness.

To understand this better, here is a list of what scientific skeptics promote and do.

Respect for Knowledge and Truth: Skeptics value reality and what is very true. We thus strive to be as reality-based as possible in our beliefs and viewpoints. This means subjecting all claims to a legitimate process of assessment.

Methodological Naturalism: Skeptics believe that the world is knowable because it follows certain rules or laws of nature. The only legitimate methods for understanding anything