Perspective, Paradigm and Thinking Outside of the Box

.
I don't have a lot of research to quote, but I think it's clear that a person's perspective is often a result of the paradigm they use or the culture they're part of and that seeing things from another person's point-of-view isn't easy. I know that a change of paradigm can be very very difficult, particularly when the new thing isn't well-defined or explained. Therefore, it is all the more difficult to "think outside of the box". But, there are events, situations and people who would confine us to their view of the world -- if only by simply repeated expression of their view -- and that makes it difficult for us to be free to think of anything without bias. Consider the way critics have viewed television as a dumbing-down medium and how its repeated selection of speakers shaped/shapes our view of the world and our evaluation of people and events. Consider that you can't go to a store and buy something that's not on their shelves -- they control those boxes. This is entirely different than not having money to buy something you know exists. If some product exists and we are never made aware of it by some advertising, then how can you even consider buying it?

Thinking outside the box requires imagination, creativity, rule-breaking (in a sense) and some degree of mental freedom to ignore other voices or to at least consider them without being overwhelmed by them.

Think of how you would hold contrary beliefs if you were in 1930s Germany and you heard that the Jews were the nation's problem. How would you feel about Capitalists and Capitalism if you were raised in Russia in the 1960s? How would you have felt about African-Americans or women if you were young in the Deep south of America in 1950?  How would you have felt about slavery if you were an Egyptian in the era of Moses? The prominent point of view which respects no other is hard to ignore or to criticize.

My recent study of how we think has revealed several sources which indicate our minds tend to 'connect the dots' even when some aren't present. We fill in the gaps of past, causes, even the present and the future. We do that for historically important reasons of survival and it serves us well, but it can also mislead us. That's why some cynical people can attempt to push us to buy products or ideas by presenting some accepted facts and some dubious or nonsensical ideas. They are propagandists or liars disguised as salesmen or politicians or relatives asking for money. They lead us to believe something which, if we knew the truth, would make us laugh or be angry. Learning who does this is important, but learning HOW they do it is useful too. Learning how to avoid being boxed-in or how to simply develop your own beliefs is really quite necessary in this modern world.