Learning to Unlearn: How to Rethink What We Think We Know
Unlearning can help us grow and learn more.
KEY POINTS
- Unlearning is a vital part of growth—it’s not forgetting, it’s rethinking what we think we know.
- Many core theories in psychology reflect western or industrialized biases, limiting their global relevance.
- The illusion of objectivity in both science and life can perpetuate harm and systemic bias.
- Embracing discomfort and curiosity helps us unlearn and build more inclusive knowledge systems.
Critical thinking, a growth mindset, and continuous learning are all steps to take to improve our understanding, knowledge, and wisdom. However, many of us overlook the importance of taking a step back and unlearning. Unlearning isn't forgetting—instead, it's intentionally questioning and dismantling ingrained beliefs. To truly learn, we must also recognize when previously held beliefs are no longer accurate or incomplete.
My journey to unlearn
I spent 28 years of my life in school, always trying to learn and uncover the reasons why. Grad school taught me how to read top academic science papers and dissect them. This gave me the skills to recognize that even the best information is flawed and has room for improvement. One recurring limitation with top psychological research is that studies are commonly done with university students. These are known as WEIRD samples—Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic.To avoid the WEIRD bias, we started learning about cross-cultural differences. In doing so, I saw that even foundational concepts, like Maslow's hierarchy of needs, don't apply beyond individualistic cultures. This became the thread that started to unravel the sweater for me.
Psychology is rooted in biology and Western philosophy. Along with these foundations and the scientific method, we assume all research has objectivity. However, ask 10 people at the same objective event and you will get 10 different objective experiences (eye witness testimony, for example).
This then had me questioning what a true perspective is. What is objective? I started reading about other perspectives—about reconciliation, and decentralizing the WEIRD perspective. From understanding other perspectives, I began to realize how the assumption of objectivity can cause harm (savourism).
When we don't unlearn, policies, treatments, and systems become based on flawed assumptions. This, then, reinforces systematic bias and marginalizes the non-dominant viewpoint. For example, up until 1993, women were almost always excluded from drug trials; we made assumptions on how well drugs would work for all genders based on men alone.
To add fuel to the fire, we actively discourage unlearning. We chastise people as being wishy-washy when they change positions. We get defensive if someone points out where we are wrong. Think about how we treat politicians when they adjust their platform. Do we think they are being slimy, or are we supportive because they have rethought their position after they gained additional knowledge?
Learning to unlearn
It's not easy to unlearn. Unlearning requires humility to recognize what you know is no longer accurate or what isn't the full story. It also requires you to relearn. Many find discomfort in learning because it requires change and humility. We find it hard to admit when we are wrong. However, we can shift from a shame-based mindset, "I ought to have known this already," to a curiosity-based mindset, "What else is there to discover?" Not only can this help ease discomfort, but the process of discovery can add a dopamine boost.To start to unlearn and relearn, you can seek out perspectives outside the default lens. You can also look to decolonized or intersectional perspectives. Talk with people outside your immediate social circle. Continue to learn methods that help you unlearn.
References
To help you on your journey, here are some suggested readings to get you started:
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House by Audre Lorde
The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich
A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement. Nature. 2019. D.S. Yeager, et al.
Learning to Unlearn: How to Rethink What We Think We Know
Unlearning can help us grow and learn more.
