Dichotomous Thinking

DICHOTOMOUS THINKING Engaging in dichotomous thinking, or thinking in black and white, often leads to adverse consequences. The ability to explore alternative options can serve as a safeguard against severe losses. T here is a certain way of thinking that can be called ‘Dichotomous Thinking.’ Dichotomous thinking is thinking in terms of rigid compartments of black and white. This way of thinking often becomes the cause of much harm and damage. A person who thinks in this way sees things in rigidly dualistic terms. It is as if there are only two options before him—black, or white. He is unaware that there is actually a third option available as well. On account of his unawareness of this third option, he is not able to avail of it even though it may be that his success actually lies hidden in it. Consider the following case: Members of a certain community take out a procession. Raising slogans, the procession enters a locality that is inhabited by members of another community. Thinking the slogans to be directed against them, the people of this locality get agitated. As a result, there is a clash between the members of the two communities, which ends in enormous loss of life and property.