SWINBURNE VIETNAM

HO CHI MINH CAMPUS

CLASS: GC 5.2
Topic

Judgmental – a challenge to the global citizens

INSTRUCTOR: Mr. David

HO CHI MINH CITY – JANUARY, 2023

stereotype, prejudice and discrimination still exist. While judgmental thinking may be inevitable,

there are ways to look into another perspectives and reduce its harmful effects.

Significantly, the problems are people’s instinct on making quick judgments and biased

thoughts. In Thinking fast and slow (2011), Daniel Kahneman discussed about the term “System

1 and System 2 thinking”. System 1 thinking continually assesses what is going on around an

individual which was made to help the individual make a safer answer in a dangerous situation.

Reacting is what System 1 is best at doing. The fast assessment process supports making intuitive

judgments based on associations. Risk is in every decision we face. Different people have

diverse ways of tolerance towards risk. “Risk aversion” is a term to describe the people who

prefer a certain result more than an uncertain one. Most people dislike ambiguity, even when

some one is facing a tough decision, the safer option will be chosen more. This bias can manifest

in various different ways. A judgmental personality is generally a negative characteristic despite

whether it is good or not. Most of the time, neediness is at the roots of a judgemental personality.

Needy can be one of the reason to make a social situation awkward. As a result, we may often

get rejected, then cause us to become bitter and judgmental towards others.

Stereotype and prejudice are both words described at forms of biased thinking. A

stereotype is more broad, as it can cover many different groups and individuals, while prejudice

is more specific, and often entails personal interactions with a specific person or group.

Stereotypes can be either positive or negative, and might be based on misconception or false

beliefs. While prejudice is often based on ignorance with solution is education. However, many

people choose to remain ignorant as their prejudice make them feel superior. People who aren’t

comfortable with ambiguity and want to make quick and firm decisions are also prone to making
generalizations about others. There is a chance that prejudice can be passed on generations if

there is a family member have prejudices of their own. One bad experience with a person from a

particular group can cause a person to think of all people from that group in the same way. This

is called 'stereotyping' and can lead to prejudice. The media has a powerful influence on people

in the 21st century and can sometimes be responsible for promoting a stereotype of a particular

group. For example, scapegoating.Although virtually it is impossible to change the basic way

that people think, there are possibilities about new way of thinking to reduce one’s prejudice.

Nevertheless, global citizens should confront the issue with these suggested solutions

such as looking beyond what the eyes are seeing, expanding knowledge and stepping out of the

comfort zones. First, people believe what the eyes see and see what the mind believes, but a

mindful person need to be open minded and adapt variety point of view. Putting oneself in

other’s shoes to know what the other people are going through, concentrating more on the

positive aspects of someone rather than the unpleasant features. Striving to approach different

ideas and cultures with an open mind and a desires to understand, instead of judging other

people. Reflect on own thoughts and actions to see whether there are any prejudices attitudes or

act in discriminatory ways, whether it is on purpose or unintentionally. In order to avoid negative

influences, acknowledge and avoid those who always make gossip with biased remarks or

spreading rumors about others. Rather, seek out and build relationship with upbeat individuals to

be surrounded by a non – negative environment.

Being judgmental can also hinder one’s social and relational safety, as it can create

distance, distrust, and conflict with others. This can reduce one’s sense of belonging, support,

and intimacy. According to Daniel Kahneman, System 1 is known as a protective reaction for a

risky situation. Human often scare of uncertain, strange things that have never appeared in life
and quickly make a judgment, there are times this judgment can be right or it can be wrong. To

have a more certain answer for the situation, one individual should learning from others to have a

diverse angles while dealing with the problem. Reading books, watching documentaries or

attending lectures with relevant topic can help. Learning from others can help gaining new

perspectives and become more open-minded, as it exposes oneself to different ideas, opinions,

and experiences that may challenge the current existing beliefs and assumptions. By being open-

minded, one can foster personal and professional growth by discovering new opportunities and

learning new skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, and empathy, as well as personal and

professional relationships. For example, enhancing empathy and communication skills by

understanding and respecting other people’s feelings and opinions. In the workplace, open-

mindedness can be just as beneficial. Employers and colleagues value professionals who are

receptive to new ideas, flexible, and ready to tackle challenges. An open - minded people are the

ones who do not belittle thoughts and beliefs on other individuals, fight against common biased

as well as challenge own beliefs.

Moreover, when one steps out of one's comfort zone and engages with new people, there

are a variety of potential benefits. The opportunity for new experiences and viewpoints may lead

to personal growth and an expanded perspective on life. Engaging with others can also provide

valuable insights and techniques to deal with possible situations. It is a positive step that can

build confidence, resilience, and adaptability. When leaving the comfort zone, fear doesn’t

always equate to being in the panic zone, fear can be a necessary step en route to the learning and

growth zones. Moving from one's comfort zone into one's fear zone requires bravery. It is

impossible to improve upon prior experiences in the absence of a defined path. This might make

you feel anxious. But if one persists long enough, they will eventually reach the learning zone,
where they can pick up new abilities and find creative solutions to problems. One's capacity to

achieve higher levels is increased when they establish a new comfort zone following a learning

phase.

Global citizens are people who understand how the world works, value differences in

people, and work with others to find solutions to challenges that affect everyone, no matter

where they’re from. Meaning embracing diversity and understanding the need to avoid judgment.

While it is natural to form opinions and develop perspectives over time, it is important to strive

for a non-judgmental attitude as a global citizen. This means keeping an open mind and striving

to approach different cultures, perspectives, and people with an empathetic and understanding

attitude. Biases and prejudices should be acknowledged, and work to overcome them in order to

achieve a more inclusive and respectful society. Being non-judgmental as a Global citizen means

seeing the larger picture, acknowledging cultural differences respecting multiple perspectives,

and focusing on positive values of inclusion and understanding rather than negative aspects of

prejudice and isolation. Ultimately, non-judgment becomes a conscious choice to engage with

the world in a spirit of mindfulness and respect, fostering genuine connection and positive

change.

In conclusion,although judgmental thoughts may be inevitable, there are ways to shift

perspectives and mitigate its harmful effects. A global citizens should attempt to avoid making

judgments based on preconceived notions or negative assumptions. Striving to approach different

ideas and cultures with an open mind and a desire to understand, rather than to pass judgment

instead. By taking this more empathetic and understanding approach, the negative impacts of

judgmental thinking can be minimized with a higher chance to create a more inclusive and

understanding global community.

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Cherry, K. (2023, March 22). How to become more open-minded. Verywell Mind.
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Forsythe, F. (2019, February 20). Why judging others is our natural instinct, harvard
psychologist explains. Learning Mind. https://www.learning-mind.com/judging-others/

Gewin, V. (2016). Data sharing: An open mind on open data. Nature, 529(7584), 117–119.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7584-117a

Page, O. (2020, November 4). How to leave your comfort zone and enter your “growth zone.”
PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/comfort-zone/

Roets, A. (2011, December 19). Research states that prejudice comes from a basic human need
and way of thinking. Association for Psychological Science.
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/research-states-that-prejudice-
comes-from-a-basic-human-need-and-way-of-thinking.html