What are the core habits or stances that make up critical thinking?

Don't swallow information uncritically; test arguments for logical errors; reflect on your own views; understand how media and technology shape what you see; stay open to changing your mind; back judgements with reasons; and know the limits of perception.

Budelacci lists critical thinking as a bundle of attitudes, each paired with a capacity:

• Skepticism — examine information rather than accepting it unquestioned.
• Logical thinking — check arguments for validity and for common reasoning fallacies.
• Self-reflection — scrutinise your own opinions, reactions and biases, not just other people's.
• Critical media use — understand how news and content actually spread (algorithms, platforms) so you can read them sceptically.
• Intellectual openness — be willing to revise your view in light of better reasons.
• Grounds, premises, conclusions — give reasons for your judgements; arguments should be coherent, fact-based and follow logically.
• Knowing the limits — recognise that perception and interpretation of the world are bounded, so "truth" and "usefulness" are not the same thing.

The thread running through all of them: a judgement is only as good as the reasons you can give for it.