Critical thinking and defence against manipulation

What is the goal?

How to counter the flood of information of varying quality? Manipulation of varying intensity? The importance of critical thinking increases with the number of information sources and conflicting interests. The topic crosses many areas, so the course presents practical approaches linked by unifying principles in a compressed form. Two main perspectives predominantly intersect in the course:

1. Critical thinking is primarily in the context of knowledge and truth criteria.
2. The connection with communication and especially manipulative communication.

Key topics

• Cognition – cognitive distortion. Delusions and self-delusions.
• Information – Quality. Context. Level of accuracy and completeness. Relevance.
• Universal instruments of critical thinking – logic and its limits. Context. Dynamics. Elementary thouh´ght operations and their limits.
• Science and technology – objectivity. Scientific method. Scientific truth.
• Extreme manipulation – brainwashing.
• Communication – limits of language. Communication tricks, fouls and deceptive manoeuvres. Self-defence against manipulative behaviour.
• Cultural aspects – selection. Censorship. Self-censorship. Newspeak. Doublespeak. Overton windows. Religiousness. Dogma. Taboo.
• Legal aspects – law, state, legality and legitimacy.
• Technical means of manipulation – deep fake.

How do we prepare courses?

Step 1

We identify your needs, help you define your training objectives and design a training concept. We work with management, client to develop the program and content.

• Questionnaire of participant expectations.
• Discussion with management, their expectations.
• Mystery shopping – as needed.

Step 2

In the training we make maximum use of and combine or own experience, case studies and model situations with the experience of the participants. According to the needs we combine and choose the forms of training.

• Workshop format.
• Interactive training format.
• Group coaching format.

Step 3

The success of the program is demonstrated by putting the new skills into practice. We work with management in this transformation.

• Evaluation questionnaires.
• Final reports.
• Evaluation meeting with management, client.