Differences Between Assumptions
Unlike the information contained in the message in an explicit form, implicit information, as a rule, is not realized by the addressee; it acts by bypassing the analytical procedures for processing information. Implicitness, as the ability to contain information that is not explicitly expressed, is a category of text that is complex, integral, and has various ways of manifestation. For example, a person says: ‘It would be better for him to tell; otherwise he will be upset,’ which carries the message that ‘lying is bad.’ An example of an anchoring effect would be the initial price offered for a used car sets the standard for further negotiations. Prices below the starting price will seem more reasonable, even if they are even higher than the car’s actual value.
Assumptions are often challenging to identify: usually, they are something that one has learned before and do not question; they are part of one’s belief system. The person assumes that his or her beliefs are true and uses them to interpret the world around them. The difference is that in the first case, the interlocutor seeks to convey the message of “hidden” information. Speaking of the anchoring effect, the person conveying information seeks to build an argument in such a way that the interlocutor independently comes to the necessary conclusion.
Critical Thinking
A guess is a statement that one accepts as accurate without proof or demonstration. It is the unspoken premise, assumption, or opinion that is required in order to connect the data to the conclusions. All human thought and experience are based on assumptions. A thought must begin with something one believes to be true in a particular context. People are usually unaware of what they are assuming and, therefore, rarely question thei assumptions. Much of what is wrong with human thinking can be found in the uncritical or untested assumptions that underlie it. Identifying and evaluating the accuracy and validity of assumptions is perhaps the most essential application of critical thinking.
When people examine their assumptions and improve their mental models, studying them can help to question one’s judgments, think more critically, consider other points of view, and develop empathy for the biases of others. The human mind is inherently associative, so the order in which one receives information helps determine the course of judgments and perceptions. In this regard, it is important to abstract and think critically to identify hidden manipulations whenever possible.