Three Levels of Thinking Worksheet

Complete Parts 1 and 2 below.

Part 1:

Recall what you have learned about the moral reasoning process through this weeks readings and activities. Apply what you know about the three levels of thinking to the situations below. Note: An experience is provided for you in the first two situations below. Based on the experiences provided, document your interpretation and analysis.

Situation 1:

Experience: In 2020, 57% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 voted in the presidential election, somewhat below the 67% of all citizens who reported voting (Fabina, 2021).

Interpretation:

Analysis:

Situation 2:

Experience: In 2019, the total number of prisoners in the United States was down 11% from the 2009 peak due to shrinking state and federal prison populations (USAFacts, n.d.).

Interpretation:

Analysis:

Situation 3:

For this situation, share your own experience, interpretation, and analysis to demonstrate the three levels of thinking.

Experience:

Interpretation:

Analysis:

Part 2:

Sometimes, resistance can get in the way when we are moving from the interpretation to the analysis level of thinking. As mentioned in the text, the types of resistance that show up in your thinking process may change, but resistance typically involves the use of defense mechanisms, such as ignorance, avoidance, denial, anger, clichs, conformity/superficial tolerance, Im struggling, and distractions. These defense mechanisms can prevent objective reasoning.

Resistance

Type of Resistance	Definition
Ignorance	Not learning about a particular issue because we dont want to know.
Avoidance	Staying away from people and situations that challenge our worldviews.
Denial	Refusing to acknowledge problems and issues.
Anger	Using threats or violence to keep others from challenging our views.
Clichs	Responding with trite sayings or expressions when our views are challenged.
Conformity/Superficial Tolerance	Agreeing simply for the sake of agreeing.
Im Struggling	Wrestling with an issue as a substitute for taking a stand.
Distractions	Turning to diversions to keep from thinking about troubling issues.

(Boss, 2019, p. 42)

Take a moment to consider what types of resistance might apply to the situations you responded to in Part 1, and answer the following questions in 100 words each:

1. What types of resistance are you most likely to face when one of your ethical or moral perspectives or cherished worldviews is challenged? Why do you think those types of resistance are prominent for you?

2. Provide an example of a time when you were challenged by one or two forms of resistance in a discussion about an important moral issue. How did it affect your response to the situation?

3. How can you make yourself more likely to avoid or overcome this type of resistance in future moral issue discussions?