Why "zero hundred" thinking is an obstacle to information literacy and how to overcome it

Modern society is overflowing with information. We are exposed to vast amounts of information every day through social media, news sites, and video streaming services.

However, in order to correctly understand and utilize that information, "information literacy" is essential. An unexpected obstacle to improving this literacy is "zero-hundred thinking."

What is zero-hundred thinking?

Zero-hundred thinking refers to an extreme thinking pattern in which things are perceived only as black or white, 0 or 100. For example, this is the case when you judge that "all of these sources are correct" or "this news is completely unreliable."

At first glance, this seems like a useful way of thinking that leads to clear conclusions, but it carries risks from an information literacy perspective.

There is also a risk that information providers (reporters, writers, public relations officers, social media managers, etc.) may disseminate incorrect information.

While zero-hundred thinking has its merits in certain situations, it also comes with many drawbacks. We have summarized each of them below.

merit

1. Fast decision making
   Since there is no need to consider intermediate options, decisions can be made quickly. This is effective when time or circumstances are limited.
2. Provide clear direction
   By dividing things into black and white, you can clarify your course of action and make it easier to communicate to others. This can be especially useful in situations where you are demonstrating leadership.
3. Easy to increase motivation
   The mindset of "if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it thoroughly" and "strive for perfection" will help you increase your focus on achieving your goals.
4. Reduce hesitation and conflict
   Because it eliminates any grey areas, some people may feel less anxious or confused.

Disadvantages

1. Lack of flexibility
   They may overlook middle ground solutions and multiple perspectives, which can lead to ineffective choices and conflicts.
2. It is easy to cause trouble in relationships
   There is little room for accepting other people's opinions and values, and extreme judgments can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
3. Increased stress
   You may become more perfectionist and more likely to feel frustrated or stressed when things don't go as you planned.
4. It can easily lead to self-denial
   The mindset of "If I can't do 100%, it's 0" can lead to a lack of tolerance for failure and a loss of confidence.
5. It becomes difficult to cooperate with others
   In situations where compromise or adjustment is required, zero-hundred thinking can make dialogue and cooperation difficult.

The reason why zero-hundred thinking is easily criticized

1. Value diversity
   In an age where diversity and inclusion are emphasized, extreme thinking is often seen as lacking the flexibility to accept diverse values.
2. Increasingly complex social issues
   Many of today's problems are complex and cannot be clearly divided into black and white (e.g., environmental issues, work style reform, gender equality). A zero-hundred mindset may not be enough to deal with them.
3. Heated debate on social media
   On social media, where extreme opinions tend to stand out, zero-to-one thinking can easily become a cause of conflict, resulting in the widespread image that "biased thinking = problems."
4. Mental health impacts
   Zero-hundred thinking is said to increase stress and anxiety, and should be avoided from a mental health perspective.

Three effects of zero-hundred thinking on information literacy

Unable to accept diversity of information

When we fall into the trap of thinking about 000, we tend to collect only information that matches our own values and positions, and exclude different opinions and perspectives. This reduces our ability to understand the diversity of information, and increases the risk of judging things from a biased perspective.

For example, they may conclude, "This news site published a false report once, so nothing on it can be trusted."

Decreased ability to respond to uncertain information

Most of the information we find today is neither completely correct nor completely wrong. Information is subject to context, position, and interpretation, so in most cases it is necessary to make a middle ground judgment.

Zero-hundred thinking cannot tolerate this ambiguity, which distorts the evaluation of information and decision-making.

Example: People fall into the trap of simplifying the discussion to the point where they think, "This proposal is either for or against."

encourage the spread of biased information

Judgments based on zero-hundred thinking also affect the information you send out. Sending out extreme opinions or assertive messages can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict.

For example, a categorical claim such as, "This data indicates only A, and B is completely impossible."

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Terms and thoughts similar to 000 thinking

There are several terms and thoughts that are similar to zero-hundred thinking, so we have compiled them in a list.

• All-or-nothing thinking
  A mindset in which if one element is not completely successful, the whole thing is deemed a failure. An extreme mindset that says "if it's not perfect, it's meaningless."
• Black and white thinking
  They see things in dichotomous terms, that is, they only evaluate things in terms of good and bad, success and failure, etc. They emphasize opposing and dichotomous value judgments.
• polarized thinking
  A tendency to ignore neutrality and moderation and see things in terms of extremes. Often refers to a situation in which society as a whole or individuals' judgments are easily divided.
• dichotomous thinking
  A way of thinking that simplifies things into two opposing categories, such as "good or evil" or "success or failure," and deals with complex reality in binary oppositions.
• dualism
  A philosophical approach that attempts to explain the world or things in terms of two opposing principles (such as good and evil, or spirit and matter). An abstract and theoretical concept.

Both are characterized by "no middle ground" and "extreme perceptions," and lack flexibility and diversity. They also lead to irrational and emotional conclusions in human relationships and decision-making.

How can we overcome zero-hundred thinking?

Access to a variety of information sources

We recommend that you intentionally get into the habit of exposing yourself to information from different positions and perspectives. For example, you may be able to gain a new perspective by looking into opinions that contradict your own values or information from overseas.

Practice tolerating ambiguity

One way to do this is to be conscious of the intermediate evaluation of "not everything is correct, but some of it is useful." Not striving for perfection leads to flexible thinking.

Evaluate information comparatively

It is important to get into the habit of comparing and considering multiple pieces of information rather than jumping to conclusions based on just one piece of information. It is also effective to get into the habit of thinking, "If this information is correct, what are the other possibilities?"

For reference, please see below for a psychiatrist's advice on how to get out of zero-hundred thinking.

Summary: Flexible thinking is the key to surviving in the information society

While zero-hundred thinking is useful in situations where quick decisions are required, it also hinders information literacy and the ability to use information (Writingetc.) may be adversely affected.

To survive in today's complex information society, it is necessary to not only be able to judge things in black and white, but also to recognize gray areas and be able to handle information from multiple perspectives.

I believe that by avoiding zero-hundred thinking and being conscious of thinking flexibly, we can make smarter judgments about information.