Using Your Thinking

In this lesson, you looked at two types of thinking, reactive and reflective. Put simply, reactive

thinking results in quick decisions while reflective thinking constitutes evaluating the situation

and then planning an appropriate action. For the following decisions, which type of thinking

wouldyou be most likely to use? Explain youranswer.

1.Deciding whetheror notto stop andvote as you aredriving home on election day

I would most likely use reactive thinking for this decision because I am not one to vote so

3.Deciding which schoolto attend

Making the decision to attendschool wouldbe a meansof reflective thinking because I

would need to look at schools that offer the courses that I would need to complete my

degree. In addition, Iwouldneedto contemplate whether the school thatIamlooking at

attending will be transferable if Idecidedto furthermy educational endeavors.

4. Reading through the entire assignment before beginning work

Reading through the entire assignmentpriorto beginning work is a reflectivemeans of

thinking. In order for me to understand that task at hand, I would need to fully

Iwouldlike to think thatwhen posting pictures on the internet, no matter the social

media site thatI woulduse reflective thinking, so thatIamnotposting pictures thatI

wouldotherwise be embarrassedabout later on down the road. However, in many cases, I

use reactive thinking when posting pictures because it sort of just occurs to me that the

picture thatI postto the internet isfunny and thatothers willenjoy them as much as I do.

6. Deciding whether or not to loan money to a family member

Another tricky scenario. I would use reflective thinking in this decision just based on

personal experience when lending money to family. I think that it is important that when

lending my family money that I have a clear plan of the reasons for lending them money

as well as the repercussion of whether they intend to repay me for that money being

borrowed.

financial situation.

8. Deciding which car to purchase

This decision would be a reflective type of thinking. Purchasing a care is a huge financial

decision. There are a multitude of aspects to consider, such as am I able to make the

monthly payments on the car, is the care safe and reliable for myself and my family