How Socratic Questioning Can Impact Thinking

Socrates was a Greek philosopher who is generally regarded as the father of Western philosophy. To understand the foundations of his students’ thoughts, he often asked continual questions until exposing a contradiction. His method usually involved asking a question, waiting for the answer, and then asking follow-up questions to encourage the individual to think more critically. This method became known as the Socratic method or Socratic questioning, and it can be an effective tool in behavioral and cognitive therapies, as well as a way to develop critical thinking skills. If you seek help from a licensed mental health professional, they may use Socratic questioning techniques to help you gain insight into your own thoughts and emotions.

Socratic questioning can be a helpful therapeutic tool

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What is Socratic questioning?

In Socratic questioning, questions should generally be directed, concise, clear, and free of jargon to ensure they are easily understood. Questions should be open but purposeful, and they should not suggest a right or wrong answer. Each one should have a clear meaning and be actively engaging. The focus should be on the issue at hand, with the understanding that the person may not yet have an answer. 

This type of questioning can be used to expose and pick apart deeply held views that can influence what we think and say and how we behave. It can be used with or without a specific goal in mind and is usually considered a core communication skill in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 

In CBT, questions typically focus specifically on the client. These questions can help an individual define problems, examine the meaning behind them, and identify the impacts of their thoughts and beliefs on their behavior. Socratic questioning can help people gain awareness, change the thoughts that may cause challenges in their lives, and shift their perspectives.

How to practice Socratic questioning

To practice Socratic questioning, consider the following:

• Plan enough to provide structure and direct questioning without being too rigid. 
• Give the person time to think about and respond to the questions; don’t rush them.
• Ask probing questions following their responses.
• Keep the discussion focused. 
• Ask open-ended questions, but don’t be vague or ambiguous. 
• Summarize their responses. 

Socratic questions are generally broken into types: clarification questions, assumption questions, probing questions, implication and consequences questions, viewpoint and perspective questions, and questioning the question. Here are some examples of each of these types: 

Clarification questions

• What did you mean by that? 
• Why did you say that? 
• What do you think is the main problem? 
• Can you expand on that further? 
• Can you give me an example? 
• Can you explain that in a different way? 

Assumption questions

• Why would someone make that assumption?
• Is there something else you can assume instead? 
• Can you uncover assumptions you didn’t know you had? 
• Can you verify that assumption?
• Can you explain why you came to that assumption?
• What would happen if you tried to challenge assumptions about this?

Probing questions

• What do you think causes that to happen?
• Is there any information you don’t have? 
• Why do you doubt that evidence?
• Are your reasons good enough? 
• What caused you to think that?
• How might someone refute that?

Implication and consequences questions

• What do you think would happen next? 
• What are the consequences of assuming that?
• What are the implications of that choice? 
• How does that tie into what we were discussing before?
• What are you implying by that? 
• How does X affect Y?

Viewpoint and perspective questions

• Are there alternative viewpoints?
• Who benefits from this and why?
• What is the difference between X and Y?
• How are X and Y similar? 
• What could be an alternative? 
• How would someone else respond to this?

Questioning the questions

• Why are you asking that? 
• Why is this question important? 
• Does this make sense? Why or why not? 
• What else might I ask? 
• What does that question mean? 

How can Socratic questioning impact thinking?

Research shows that Socratic questioning can improve critical thinking. Because it typically focuses more on asking questions than giving answers, it can encourage people to analyze and process information.

In theory, Socratic questioning is primarily designed to be an interaction between two people or a teacher and a group, as in a classroom setting. However, you can also use Socratic questioning as an individual thinking exercise. 

Start by writing down a negative thought or belief that is causing you distress or a problem you’re trying to solve. Then, make a list of Socratic questions that encourage you to think. For example: 

• What evidence supports or goes against this belief? 
• Is my belief based on an assumption of fact?
• Is there an alternative perspective?
• If someone else was in this situation, what would I say to them? 
• What is the best thing that could happen? 
• What is the worst thing that could happen?
• What would I like to see happen?
• What is the most likely outcome? 
• How can I cope with this situation?
• What is holding on to this costing me? 
• What will happen if I let this go?
• How will I know that I have met my goal?

Socratic questioning can be a helpful therapeutic tool

Connect with a therapist to learn more

Benefits of Socratic questioning

Socratic questioning can be an integral part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of talk therapy used to treat a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One study found that Socratic questioning in CBT could contribute to symptom change in individuals with depression, but more research may be needed regarding its efficacy in treating other conditions.

In CBT, therapists can use this type of questioning to help clients identify the roots of negative thoughts and beliefs and develop more positive ways to challenge them. Socratic questioning can also help people develop new perspectives and insights into themselves and the way they see the world.

Benefits of online therapy for learning Socratic questioning

If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression or another mental health concern and are interested in working with a therapist or learning more about Socratic questioning, online therapy can be a flexible, convenient option. An online therapy platform like BetterHelp can help you find a therapist based on your preferences and needs. With online therapy, you can attend sessions from the comfort of your home at a time that suits your schedule. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

In addition, research has shown that online therapy can be a valid alternative to in-person treatment. One narrative review of 17 studies found that online therapy may be more effective than face-to-face counseling and that participants appeared to be equally satisfied with either intervention. Online CBT was also found to be more cost-effective than in-person treatment.