Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence & Reasoning – Lecture Review

These flashcards review definitions, sentence types, emotional intelligence, adversity management, inductive reasoning, heuristics, universal intellectual standards and critical-thinking skills from the lecture notes.

What is Emotional Intelligence (EI)?

The ability to recognise, understand, manage and influence one’s own emotions and those of others.

Name the five core components of EI.

Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.

Which EI component involves recognising your own emotional states?

Self-awareness.

Which EI component focuses on controlling or redirecting disruptive emotions and impulses?

Self-regulation.

During the “Emotionally Triggered” reflection, what four questions should you ask yourself?

1) What happened? 2) What emotion did I feel? 3) How did I react? 4) What could I do differently next time?

Define a precising definition.

A definition that states the essential characteristics or boundaries of a term clearly, leaving no room for significant doubt or multiple interpretations.

What is a theoretical definition?

A definition that assigns meaning to a term by embedding it within a specific conceptual framework or theory.

Give an example of a sentence type that issues a command.

An imperative sentence, e.g., “Close the door.”

Which sentence type conveys information or statements of fact?

A declarative sentence.

Provide one emotive expression from the notes.

“She hates the piano.” (or “He feels lonely.”)

What is an ostensive definition?

A definition that explains a term by pointing to, showing or demonstrating an example of it.

How does an enumerative definition work?

It defines a concept by listing individual members of its class, e.g., naming specific world leaders.

What is a stipulative definition?

A meaning assigned to a word for a specific purpose or to label a new phenomenon (e.g., “frenemy,” “sexting”).

Describe a lexical definition.

The conventional dictionary meaning of a word.

What is a persuasive definition?

A definition crafted to influence the audience’s attitudes or emotions toward the term.

How is adversity defined in the notes?

A state or instance of serious or continual difficulty or misfortune.

List four types of adversity discussed.

Personal challenges, professional setbacks, health issues and financial struggles (others include loss & grief, discrimination).

Name two strategies for managing adversity.

Maintaining a positive mindset and engaging in effective communication (also: being flexible and adaptable).

Which leadership trait is highlighted as core when teams face adversity?

Empathy.

Identify Paul & Elder’s eight elements of thought.

Purpose, Questions, Information, Interpretation/Inference, Concepts, Assumptions, Implications/Consequences and Conclusions.

When evaluating inductive reasoning, what distinguishes correlation from causation?

Correlation is repeated coincidence suggesting a relationship; causation requires evidence that one event actually produces the other.

What is a hasty generalisation?

Drawing a broad conclusion from too little or unrepresentative information.

Explain the false dilemma fallacy.

Presenting a situation as having only two bad choices when more alternatives actually exist.

Describe the gambler’s fallacy.

Assuming that random independent events are influenced by previous outcomes.

Which two cognitive systems govern human decision-making?

The reactive (instinctive, quick) system and the reflective (deliberative, analytical) system.

Why are heuristics considered beneficial?

They conserve mental energy and allow quick, ‘good enough’ decisions, especially in familiar or urgent situations.

What is the satisficing heuristic?

Choosing the first option that meets acceptable criteria instead of searching for the optimal one.

Define temporizing as a heuristic.

Selecting an option that is adequate for now, with the possibility of revisiting the decision later.

What is the simulation heuristic?

Mentally picturing oneself performing an action to gauge its likely success or failure.

Explain dominance structuring.

Organising options so that one clearly emerges as the best choice, simplifying decision-making.

List any five universal intellectual standards.

Clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logicalness, significance and fairness.

What does the intellectual standard of depth require?

Addressing the complexities and nuances of an issue rather than treating it superficially.

Why is fairness important in critical thinking?

It ensures all relevant perspectives are considered impartially without bias.

Identify three critical thinking skills mentioned in the notes.

Analytical ability, open-mindedness and problem-solving (also: communication, research, curiosity, active listening, reflection).

What is meant by ‘analysis’ in critical thinking skills?

Breaking complex information into parts to examine their structure and relationships.

Define ‘inference’ in the context of critical thinking.

Drawing conclusions or making predictions based on evidence and reasoning.

What does ‘synthesis’ refer to?

Combining ideas to create a new, coherent perspective or product.

What is conceptualisation?

Inventing or working with abstract concepts, categories and principles to organise knowledge and reasoning.

Describe self-regulation as a critical thinking skill.

Monitoring and controlling one’s cognitive processes, emotions and behaviours during thinking.

Which intellectual standard focuses on concentrating on the most impactful information?

Significance.

What key question should you ask when forming an inductive generalisation?

Was the correct group sampled and was the data gathered systematically?

Give another example of an imperative sentence from the notes.

“Write a five-page essay.”