{"id":1248,"date":"2021-12-01T08:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T16:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/aaron-rodgers-dropped-the-ball-on-critical-thinking-with-a-little-practice-you-can-do-better\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T20:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T03:59:52","slug":"aaron-rodgers-critical-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/aaron-rodgers-critical-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Rodgers dropped the ball on critical thinking \u2013 with a little practice you can do\u00a0better"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                                    \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/story-3584-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/04\/story-3584-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Aaron Rodgers dropped the ball on critical thinking \u2013 with a little practice you can do\u00a0better\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  However Rodgers came to his decision to remain unvaccinated, he did not follow the tenets of critical thinking. (Image Source: WikiCommons.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=faculty\">Faculty<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Aaron Rodgers dropped the ball on critical thinking \u2013 with a little practice you can do\u00a0better<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  The NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback claimed his decision to skip COVID-19 vaccination is based on critical thinking, but there are some flaws in his approach that we can learn from. <strong>[6\u00be&nbsp;min&nbsp;read]<\/strong>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Joe \u00c1rvai<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">December 1, 2021<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 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     >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>It was hard to miss the news about Green Bay Packers\u2019 quarterback Aaron Rodgers testing positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 3. Like the <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#rates-by-vaccine-status\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vast majority of people<\/a> currently catching\u00a0\u2014 and dying from\u00a0\u2014 the coronavirus, he was unvaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>A few days after his diagnosis, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Y3JU_oAEinQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rodgers took to the airwaves<\/a> to offer a smorgasbord of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportingnews.com\/us\/nfl\/news\/aaron-rodgers-covid-pat-mcafee-show-target-woke-mob\/1caksb1mfhcrj1dgikrkvttu90\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pandemic misinformation and conspiracy theories<\/a> in defense of his decision to skip the COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n<p>Having listened to many an interview with Rodgers, I found it totally predictable that he began his comments by asserting, \u201cI\u2019m not, you know, some sort of anti-vax, flat-earther.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But as someone who does research on how people think and decide, it\u2019s what Rodgers said next that caused me to lean in: \u201cI am somebody who\u2019s a critical thinker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Critical thinker? The fact is, research on the link between <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/risa.13833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">critical thinking ability and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a> suggests that Rodgers is the opposite.<\/p>\n<p>For scientists <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DecisionLab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">like me<\/a> whose job it is to unravel how people instinctively make choices, and then to help them make better ones, critical thinking isn\u2019t just a slogan used to score points. It\u2019s not some after-the-fact justification someone makes to convince others\u00a0\u2014 or themselves\u00a0\u2014 that their opinions or behaviors are sound.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, critical thinking is a pattern of behaviors that happen before someone makes a judgment, like coming to the conclusion that something is risky. Likewise, critical thinking comes before making a decision, like choosing to avoid something judged to be too risky for comfort.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what it really takes to be a critical thinker.<\/p>\n<h2>Three ingredients for critical thinking<\/h2>\n<p>Critical thinking as a precursor to sound judgments and decisions involves three related elements that are accessible to almost anyone.<\/p>\n<p>First, critical thinking means being able to recognize that there are situations where you must <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/11\/27\/books\/review\/thinking-fast-and-slow-by-daniel-kahneman-book-review.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">balance your instinctive reactions<\/a> to what\u2019s going on around you, based on emotions like fear and desire, with the need for a <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/bpp.2020.37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heavier psychological lift<\/a>. In these cases, it\u2019s crucial to take note of conflicting objectives and make <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13669877.2019.1569107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">difficult trade-offs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Take the pandemic, which, thanks to the arrival of new variants like omicron, has gone into overtime. You may have a strong desire to live your \u201cnormal\u201d life as you knew it before COVID-19 started to spread; at the same time, you probably want to keep those around you safe and secure. Knowing where to draw the line between personal comfort and the well-being of those around you means putting your emotions to the side and diving into data so you can better understand the broader consequences of your intended actions.<\/p>\n<p>Second, critical thinking means following some <a href=\"https:\/\/sjdm.org\/dmidi\/Actively_Open-Minded_Thinking_Beliefs.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">basic principles<\/a> when you search for and use information. You must be open to and consider more than one solution to a problem, without ignoring or dismissing evidence that goes against your initial beliefs. And you must be willing to change your mind and your behavior in response to new information or insights.<\/p>\n<p>Last, critical thinking means recognizing when you are out of your depth and then looking to legitimate experts for help. In other words, critical thinkers understand when it\u2019s time <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sjdm.org\/presentations\/2019-Poster-Baron-Jonathan-endorse-AOT-cues.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to outsource critical thinking<\/a> to others.<\/p>\n<p>But this raises an important question: How do you figure out who is an actual expert? Critical thinkers answer this question by not just looking at someone\u2019s stature or credentials. They also assess potential experts\u2019 behaviors with respect to the first two elements of critical thinking. How good is the expert at balancing instinct with the need for more in-depth analysis? And does the expert follow the basic principles that should govern the search for and use of information?<\/p>\n<h2>Everyone loses when critical thinking is sidelined<\/h2>\n<p>Consider the results of a recent study conducted during what scientists around the world agree is a serious public health crisis. In it, my colleagues and I found that people in the U.S. who score high on a scale used to measure critical thinking ability <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/risa.13833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">judge COVID-19 to pose a real and significant risk<\/a> to public health. They also placed greater trust in legitimate public health experts, and\u00a0\u2014 importantly\u00a0\u2014 behaved in a manner that is more consistent with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prevent-getting-sick\/prevention.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pandemic risk management strategies<\/a> recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n<p>Judging by his behavior and statements, Aaron Rodgers wouldn\u2019t have belonged in this group. Indeed, Rodgers\u2019 own comments suggest he fumbled his way through the three elements of critical thinking.<\/p>\n<p>In spite of his claim that his decision to remain unvaccinated involved \u201ca lot of time, energy and research,\u201d it seems he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/kidspost\/aaron-rodgers-played-scientist-when-he-should-have-stuck-to-playing-football\/2021\/11\/10\/3d3b1b48-36b4-11ec-9bc4-86107e7b0ab1_story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">neither understood nor weighed the trade-off<\/a> between the exceedingly slim chance of becoming sick from one of the available vaccines versus the much higher probability of becoming sick\u00a0\u2014 or making others sick\u00a0\u2014 from COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>And historically, Rodgers hasn\u2019t been shy about <a href=\"https:\/\/torontosun.com\/sports\/football\/nfl\/aaron-rodgers-wont-let-woke-cancel-culture-stop-him-from-expressing-himself\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dismissing viewpoints<\/a> that run counter to his own. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/sports\/sporting-scene\/the-selfish-individualism-of-aaron-rodgers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boasting about his COVID-19 infection<\/a>, Rodgers confessed as much when he said, \u201cI march to the beat of my own drum.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally his success rate when it comes to handing off critical thinking to others is lousy. On COVID-19, he follows the advice of pseudo-experts like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/09\/01\/business\/joe-rogan-covid-19.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe Rogan<\/a> over that of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/delivering-care\/public-health\/open-letter-american-public-covid-19-vaccines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">actual medical experts<\/a> and has chosen to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/aaron-rodgers-packers-covid-vaccine-ivermectin-woke-mob\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subject himself<\/a> to a demonstrably dangerous drug, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ivermectin<\/a>, instead of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/safety\/safety-of-vaccines.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">safe and effective vaccine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, Aaron Rodgers is far from alone when it comes to poor critical thinking. And, making matters worse, the implications of uncritical thinking extend well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the poster child for an absence of critical thinking is the political divide in the U.S. From Main Street America to the U.S. Capitol, I\u2019d argue that nothing says my-way-or-the-highway like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/news\/daily-comment\/a-new-report-offers-insights-into-tribalism-in-the-age-of-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inflexible tribalism<\/a> that has infected important policy issues ranging from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.milwaukeeindependent.com\/syndicated\/fear-racism-public-manipulated-politics-tribalism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">inequality<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2015\/may\/15\/the-climate-change-movement-must-overcome-political-tribalism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">climate change<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/09\/14\/david-burns-why-is-gun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guns<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ldi.upenn.edu\/our-work\/research-updates\/health-care-reform-in-the-age-of-partisan-deadlock-and-tribal-politics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">health care<\/a>. Balancing fast-acting emotion with the slow burn of analysis, a willingness to change your mind and compromise, and the courage to admit you are not an expert\u00a0\u2014 and to trust those who are\u00a0\u2014 seem as far away in politics today <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2020\/05\/1968-and-2020-lessons-from-americas-worst-year-so-far\/612415\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as they have been in decades<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Training camp for critical thinking<\/h2>\n<p>On the bright side, and with a little practice, people can learn to think critically. Unlike other tasks that require highly specialized skills\u00a0\u2014 like playing the position of quarterback in the NFL\u00a0\u2014 critical thinking is well within the reach of nearly anyone willing to put in the reps.<\/p>\n<p>Studies show, for example, that critical thinking can be activated in the moment just before certain <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13546783.2018.1548379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">judgments<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gloenvcha.2019.101964\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">choices<\/a> need to be made. Researchers also know that the <a href=\"https:\/\/sjdm.org\/dmidi\/Actively_Open-Minded_Thinking_Beliefs.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">basic principles<\/a> of critical thinking <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1464-0597.1993.tb00731.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">can be taught<\/a>, even to <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/109019819101800302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">young children and adolescents<\/a>. And, for complicated judgments and choices, people can take advantage of <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/es4036286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">decision-support tools<\/a> that help them clarify their objectives, consider relevant information, evaluate a wide range of options and understand the compromises that come with choosing one possibility over another.<\/p>\n<p>Deploying the skills of critical thinking ultimately requires one more important ingredient, though, and this one can\u2019t easily be taught: courage. It takes courage to break from your closely held opinions and, especially, from the relative sanctuary offered by your social or political circle. And it takes courage to publicly change your mind and your behavior.<\/p>\n<p>But here too there\u2019s a bright side. Changing your mind and behavior because you thought critically about something doesn\u2019t mean that your earlier opinions and behaviors were a mistake. On the contrary, it\u2019s a public display that you learned something important and new. And that, at least as much as success on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wiscnews.com\/sports\/football\/professional\/frozen-tundra-the-5-coldest-games-in-green-bay-packers-history\/collection_17677ba1-d47b-565a-9fb1-bb89327ba36e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">frozen tundra<\/a> of Rodgers\u2019 home field in Green Bay, is worthy of respect and admiration.<\/p>\n<p>[<em>You\u2019re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation\u2019s authors and editors.<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/memberservices.theconversation.com\/newsletters\/?source=inline-youresmart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter<\/a>.]<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/172362\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/joe-arvai-170276\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe \u00c1rvai<\/a>, Dana and David Dornsife Professor of Psychology and Director of the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/aaron-rodgers-dropped-the-ball-on-critical-thinking-with-a-little-practice-you-can-do-better-172362\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-low-covid-19-vaccination-among-children\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Why are COVID-19 vaccination rates among children so low? Parents\u2019 worry about long-term risks, responsibility<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/time-sensitive-research-at-warp-speed\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How scholars conduct time-sensitive research at warp speed<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/moral-values-and-vaccine-acceptance\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Moral values explain differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates across U.S. counties<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback claimed his decision to skip COVID-19 vaccination is based on critical thinking, but there are some flaws in his approach that we can learn from. <strong>[6\u00be&nbsp;min&nbsp;read]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":1251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,26,24],"tags":[62,87,112,83],"class_list":["post-1248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty","category-health","category-social-impact","tag-covid-19","tag-expert-viewpoint","tag-psychology","tag-the-conversation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Aaron Rodgers dropped the ball on critical thinking \u2013 with a little practice you can do\u00a0better<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The NFL Green Bay 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