A - Independent thinking

Recognizable questions Why do I so quickly doubt my own judgment? Why do I ask what others think first before making a decision myself? Why does independent thinking sometimes feel scary? Why does it feel like I need permission before I’m allowed to decide something? Why do I trust someone in authority faster than my own assessment? How do I learn to listen to others without handing over my own ability to think? This touches on autonomous thinking . What is autonomous thinking? Autonomous thinking means examining information, weighing arguments, considering different perspectives, and ultimately taking responsibility for your own conclusion. That doesn’t mean you have to know everything yourself. We all learn from others: parents, teachers, friends, scientists, doctors, books, faith communities, and our own experiences. So the most important question is not: “Do I listen to others?” but: “Can I listen to others and still ultimately understand for myself why I believe or decide something?” Autonomy also does not automatically mean that you must reach a different conclusion from your parents, religion, doctor, or environment. You can investigate independently and then come to exactly the same conclusion. The difference is not necessarily in what you decide, but in how you arrive at that conviction. Autonomy is not the same as doing everything alone Within the Self-Determination Theory of psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, autonomy is seen as one of three basic psychological needs, alongside competence and relatedness. In this theory, autonomy mainly means that you experience your choices and behavior as being in line with yourself and not imposed solely from the outside. So it does not mean: I don’t need anyone . You can accept advice and still act autonomously. You can share a religious belief with millions of others and still feel: “I have investigated this myself and I endorse it.” And you can make a decision entirely on your own while it still feels hardly autonomous at all, for example when fear or guilt makes you feel there is really only one possible choice. Why do people trust others? A child has to rely heavily on others at first. They cannot yet assess the world independently. Even as adults, we remain dependent on other people’s knowledge. When a doctor explains how a treatment works, it is only logical that their medical expertise carries weight. The same applies to an electrician, pilot, scientist, or other specialist. So independent thinking does not mean: “I know better.” It can instead mean: “I recognize your expertise, but I want to understand what your conclusion is based on.” That distinction matters. No one can personally verify every claim. We constantly have to determine which sources and people we trust and why . Why does authority have so much influence? People do not only respond to arguments. Someone’s status, position, and perceived expertise can also have an impact. Stanley Milgram’s classic experiments showed how strongly instructions from an authority figure could influence behavior. The experiments were artificial and ethically highly controversial, so they cannot be directly translated to ordinary religious, medical, or work situations. But they were important research into the influence of perceived legitimate authority on obedience. That does not mean authority is wrong. It does mean that a useful extra question can sometimes be: “Do I find this convincing because of the arguments — or is who is saying it to me also playing a role?” We also learn by observing others Psychologist Albert Bandura showed that people learn a great deal by observing others. We do not just copy concrete actions; we also learn expectations, reactions, and ways of assessing situations. Parents, teachers, friends, and other important people can therefore have a major influence on how we learn to think and act. That is a normal part of human development. So autonomous thinking does not mean you can or should shut out all influence from others. Rather, it means you can become increasingly aware and ask yourself: “Where does this belief actually come from?” Feelings and independent thinking are not the same Independent thinking also does not simply mean: “Always follow your feelings.” Feelings can contain valuable information, but they can also be influenced by fear, past experiences, expectations, and habits. Thoughts can likewise be wrong. That is why autonomous thinking requires you to weigh multiple things side by side: your feelings; your experiences; facts; arguments; the reliability of sources; other perspectives; and your own values. A well-known Bible verse says: “The heart is treacherous, more than anything else.” — Jeremiah 17:9 Within a religious approach, such a text can emphasize that feelings are not always a reliable guide. Psychologically, that does not have to conflict with it. Autonomy does not mean that every inner feeling is automatically right. It means learning to examine what you think and feel. How can this be recognizable among Jehovah’s Witnesses? Among Jehovah’s Witnesses, a lot of emphasis is placed on study, Bible knowledge, and personal conviction. An official JW publication for young people, for example, encourages you to convince yourself that what you have learned from the Bible is true and to research questions personally. Another publication says that someone should convince themselves that this is the truth and do research when questions arise. JW.org also says about Bible study that faith is a personal matter and that ultimately each person decides for themselves what they do with the knowledge they have gained. At the same time, the publications make a distinction between becoming personally convinced and ‘independent thinking’ in the sense of thinking independently of Jehovah or the theocratic direction. For example, independent thinking is mentioned in a Watchtower study article from 2024 as something a Christian must be on guard against. An official 2023 publication also advises not to read, answer, or spread information considered apostate. A Watchtower article about making God’s thoughts one’s own describes the desired process as studying God’s Word, understanding how Jehovah thinks, and then increasingly making that way of thinking one’s own. Those different emphases can lead to an interesting personal question: What does independent research mean to me? For someone who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the answer may be that through Bible study and examining publications he or she has come to a personal conviction of faith. A former Witness may later feel that for some questions they mainly searched within a familiar frame of reference and later felt the need to examine other sources or perspectives. Both experiences can exist. Psychology does not have to determine which religious conclusion should follow from that. The psychological question is mainly: does someone feel room to investigate, understand, and truly experience a conviction as their own? When advice quietly becomes permission Sometimes someone seems to be asking for advice, while something else is actually happening. For example: “What would you do?” can mean: “Help me think it through.” But it can also mean: “Tell me what I’m allowed to do.” That difference is not always easy to recognize. A simple test can be: “If this person advises something different from what I myself think, do I still feel free to make my own choice?” When the answer is yes, you are probably using advice as information. When the answer is no, it may be useful to examine why that person’s opinion has come to carry so much weight. Independent thinking is not rebellion Critical thinking does not mean you must automatically be against existing beliefs. Rejecting something simply because an authority says it is not necessarily more autonomous than accepting something simply because an authority says it. In both cases, the authority still determines your response. True independence may instead mean: “I want to understand first what arguments there are.” You can then say: I agree. I disagree. I don’t know yet. I need more information. All four can be outcomes of independent thinking. Autonomy also means tolerating uncertainty A fixed answer brings peace. “This is how it is.” can feel much more comfortable than: “I don’t know yet.” But independent research sometimes involves a period in which you do not yet have a conclusion. You may come across conflicting information. You may discover that a subject is more complicated than you thought. You may even change an opinion you have held for years. That does not have to mean your thinking has failed. Being willing to revise a conviction when new information gives cause to do so is precisely part of careful thinking. What happens when one familiar compass falls away? When someone has made important decisions within one clear framework for years, it can feel uncertain when that framework changes or disappears. Someone may then think: What do I actually think myself? How do I know what is right? Which source can I trust? What if I make the wrong choice? That does not mean that someone is incapable of thinking independently. Doing your own research and weighing things up are skills. Skills get stronger when you use them. So you don’t need to suddenly have a firm opinion on everything. Autonomy can begin with something much simpler: “I don’t know yet, so I’m going to look into it.” What can you do with this? When you’re examining an important belief or decision, you can ask yourself: What exactly do I believe? Where did I learn this? What evidence supports it? What arguments speak against it? Which sources am I using, and why do I trust them? Can I also look at information that does not confirm my current view? Do I know why someone else comes to a different conclusion? Am I asking for advice now, or really for permission? Am I willing to leave my conclusion open for the time being? What could make me change my mind? That last question is especially important. When the answer is: “Nothing.” then it is worth asking yourself whether you are still exploring something or merely defending an existing belief. Questions to think about Which people have a lot of influence on how I think? Why do I trust them in particular? Do I feel free to disagree with them? Can I love someone without sharing the same beliefs? Am I willing to look at information that challenges my current view? Which sources do I consider reliable, and why? Which beliefs have I actually investigated myself? When am I asking for advice, and when am I seeking permission? Am I willing to say: “I don’t know yet”? And perhaps the most important: Can I explain why I believe something without only saying who taught it to me? Summary Thinking autonomously does not mean you need no one, that you must know everything yourself, or that you must automatically go against authorities and religious beliefs. People constantly learn from one another. Autonomy is about being able to examine information, ask questions, weigh arguments, and ultimately affirm a belief as your own. That way, you can think independently and reach the same conclusion as your family, faith community, or expert. You can also come to a different conclusion. And you may not come to any conclusion yet. The point is not that you must think differently. The point is that you understand why you think what you think, and that you feel free to examine your beliefs honestly. Sources and further reading Richard M. Ryan & Edward L. Deci (2000), Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being , American Psychologist , 55(1), 68–78. An important publication on autonomy, competence, and relatedness as basic psychological needs. Richard M. Ryan & Edward L. Deci (2017), Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness . An in-depth treatment of autonomy and motivation. Stanley Milgram (1963), Behavioral Study of Obedience , Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology , 67, 371–378. A classic study of obedience and the influence of authority. Albert Bandura – Social Learning Theory and later Social Cognitive Theory . Bandura’s work shows how people learn behavior, responses, and expectations in part by observing others. Jehovah’s Witnesses – official publications about convincing yourself of your faith, personal Bible study, and making God’s thinking your own. Jehovah’s Witnesses – official publications about independent thinking and information considered apostate. These sources are included here to reflect the organization’s own terminology and guidelines as accurately as possible. Also read Anxiety and tension around authority – why the opinion of someone in authority can sometimes carry extra weight. Social influence – how other people influence our thoughts and choices without direct coercion. Group pressure – why it can be difficult to make a different choice from the people around you. Confirmation bias – why we more easily notice and remember information that fits what we already believe. Cognitive dissonance – what happens when new information clashes with existing beliefs. Internalization – how norms and beliefs from outside can become part of your own inner voice. Self-censorship – why you sometimes hold back your thoughts before anyone else has even said anything. Learned helplessness – what can happen when you develop the feeling that your own influence is limited. Conscience – how personal values, learned norms, and feelings of guilt can be connected. Epistemic dependence – why we necessarily rely on others for knowledge and how we determine who or what is reliable.