By Jamie O'Banion
With pensive faces, BYU students listened intently to Tuesday''s Devotional, July 15, on thinking habits and understanding.
'The surface approach occurs whenever a student tries to complete an assigned learning task with minimal effort while giving the appearance of having properly learned what was expected; this is a hypocrisy,' said Richard Sudweeks, professor of educational psychology.
Understanding has three advantages to memorization - generative, enabling and staying power, Sudweeks said.
He said scholars have discovered most people already possess the skills needed to think effectively, but people lack the commitment and willingness to invest their time in the development of these skills.
Sudweeks discussed the relationship between thinking habits and the disposition to be an analytical or rational thinker.
'To be disposed to think in a certain manner means that an individual has a consistent tendency to employ the same thinking pattern in different situations and on different occasions,' Sudweeks said.
Quoting James Allen when he said, '''A man is literally what he thinks. His character being the complete sum of all his thoughts,''' Sudweeks said thoughts have a direct influence on character.
He said he believes people will be judged by their thoughts and their behavior, and that this principle refers more to disposition than to isolated thoughts.
Citing five types of thinking to avoid, Sudweeks first discussed the importance of avoiding lustful thinking.
He encouraged students to avoid harboring lewd, coarse, obscene or vulgar thoughts.
'A single thought that sneaks into your mind will not do much harm unless you invite it to linger and treat is a welcome guest rather than an intruder,' Sudweeks said. 'Do not feed these strangers.'
When discussing the principle of coveting, Sudweeks said the Lord specifically forbids coveting.
' is a form of selfish thinking that occurs when a person develops an inordinate desire to obtain the possession, position or status obtained by someone else.'
Sudweeks also discussed bearing grudges and said harboring ill thoughts will cause bitterness and spite.
'If you allow these feelings to continue, they will canker your soul,' Sudweeks said.
He said engaging in self-pity is another destructive thinking habit.
Initial discouragement can turn into despondency and despair, Sudweeks said.
'Your thoughts affect your feelings and you can change the way you feel by the way you think,' he said.
Sudweeks said it is important to realize the effect your thinking has on the lives of others.
He warned students to be careful of the way they think because it can have intended and unintended effects.
'If you have one of these destructive habits I encourage you to change your customary way of thinking,' Sudweeks said.