Final answer:
Critical thinking is the practice of questioning assumptions and beliefs with an open yet skeptical mindset, using evidence and logical analysis to examine claims. It is distinct from pseudoscience and aligns with the principles of the scientific method, including hypothesis testing and epistemic humility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Someone who exercises curiosity and skepticism about assumptions and beliefs is using critical thinking. Critical thinking involves evaluating claims, solving problems, and making decisions on the basis of sound reasoning, evidence, and logical analysis rather than through emotional impulse or unsupported assertion. The principles of hypothesis testing in the scientific method embody this careful and systematic approach to knowledge. Scientists, including biologists, use the scientific method to test hypotheses by collecting data, running experiments, and examining results to confirm or disprove their initial hypotheses. This method requires maintaining skepticism and practicing epistemic humility, understanding the limitations of our knowledge while being open to new evidence and perspectives.
In contrast, pseudoscience lacks the rigorous testing and evidence-based approach of science. The biopsychosocial model is a method used to understand health and illness, incorporating biological, psychological, and social factors, rather than an approach to thinking critically. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is critical thinking, which is the practice of questioning and analyzing beliefs and assumptions with an open mind but with a healthy dose of skepticism.