Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently

The most influential thinker in Malcolm Gladwell's life was the psychologist Richard Nisbett, who showed that people think and see the world differently due to differing ecologies, social structures, philosophies, and educational systems. East Asian thought is holistic, while Westerners focus on salient objects or people, use attributes to assign them to categories, and apply rules of formal logic.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 11 July 2019
\n Publisher: John Murray Press
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The most influential thinker in my life has been the psychologist Richard Nisbett. He has fundamentally shaped my worldview and provided me with a profound understanding of the world.

Richard Nisbett's impact on my thinking is truly remarkable. His work has profoundly influenced my perspective on the world and helped me to see it in a new light.

One of the most striking aspects of Richard Nisbett's thinking is his emphasis on the cognitive differences between Westerners and East Asians. He has shown through his research that people from different cultures perceive and think about the world in distinct ways.

According to Richard Nisbett, these cognitive differences are rooted in the different ecologies, social structures, philosophies, and educational systems that have developed over centuries in different parts of the world. He argues that these cultural differences have a profound impact on how people think and see the world.

One of the most notable cognitive differences between Westerners and East Asians is their focus on holistic thinking. Nisbett argues that East Asians are drawn to the perceptual field as a whole, and to relations among objects and events within that field. In contrast, Westerners tend to focus on salient objects or people, use attributes to assign them to categories, and apply rules of formal logic to understand their behavior.

Another important cognitive difference is the reliance on dialectic thinking in East Asian thought. Nisbett argues that East Asians are fundamentally dialectic, seeking a middle way between opposing thoughts. By contrast, Westerners tend to rely more on categorical thinking and formal logic.

These cognitive differences have significant implications for how people approach problem-solving and decision-making. Nisbett argues that East Asians are better at holistic problem-solving, while Westerners are better at analytical problem-solving. He also suggests that East Asians are better at making decisions in complex social situations, while Westerners are better at making decisions in more isolated situations.

Richard Nisbett's work has also had a profound impact on my approach to education. He argues that education should be designed to promote holistic thinking and to encourage students to develop a deep understanding of the world around them. He believes that education should focus on developing students' critical thinking skills and their ability to see the world from multiple perspectives.

In conclusion, Richard Nisbett has been the most influential thinker in my life. His work has helped me to see the world in a new light and to understand the cognitive differences between Westerners and East Asians. His emphasis on holistic thinking, dialectic thinking, and critical thinking has had a profound impact on my approach to education and my understanding of the world. I am grateful for his work and for the insights it has provided me.

\n Weight: 206g\n
Dimension: 198 x 141 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781529309416\n \n