Turn the "why" on your own assumptions

Apply the same "why do I believe this?" scrutiny to your existing beliefs, not just new facts.

Why it works

Elaborative interrogation usually targets new material, but the same generative questioning exposes beliefs you hold without justification. Asking "why do I actually believe this?" recruits the evidence you do have and reveals the beliefs resting on nothing — the same connection-building and gap-finding mechanism, aimed inward.

How to do it

1. Pick a belief or habit you treat as obvious.
2. Ask "why do I believe this, and what is the actual evidence?"
3. Notice whether you can produce a real reason or only a feeling, and update accordingly.

Evidence

This extends the well-supported elaboration and self-explanation mechanisms to self-held beliefs; the underlying claim — that generating reasons deepens and tests understanding — is strongly evidenced, while applying it to personal belief revision is a reasonable extension. (mechanistic)

Direct experimental evidence is for fact learning; using the technique for belief examination is a principled application rather than a separately studied outcome.

Common mistake

Treating the technique as something for textbooks only, while leaving unexamined the everyday assumptions that most shape your decisions.