IN-PERSON: Learning. Life. Work

Abstract

Optional thinking (OT) is the cognitive ability to generate and compare alternative hypotheses to explain events. Not deploying OT in real-life may lead to premature acceptance of inadequate hypotheses and can result in dire consequences. The skill of OT requires flexible cognition, not unlike the one sought for within the Cognitive Flexibility Theory for education. Negative stereotyping (NS) impedes cognitive and affective responses to life problems in youngsters. Showing that training OT changes NS held by youngsters will validate the beneficial effectiveness of this new educational training. I assume change to occur because encouraging youngsters to generate and compare new or alternate options to their negative stereotyped subject raises awareness of the latter’s point of view and may result in an alternative favorable view that sees the stereotyped subject as three dimensional and complex, thereby changing the two-dimensional negative stereotyping previously held towards the subject. Preliminary pilot test shows positive results. I suggest training youngsters in OT by a film workshop training them to produce a short film where the film narrative branches in a conflict, with each branched plot leading from the point of view of a different character to a different resolution. I presume this structure encourages OT because one needs to compare for comprehension the optional branching plots (see Sliding Doors) and the optional points of view over the same event (see Rashomon). Use of exercises and OTtests to improve OT and change NS.