Thinking is exactly what allows a person to establish certain laws between phenomena and objects of the world. With it, we know the reality around us. Forms of thinking are of great importance. In that case, if we perceived reality differently, the history of mankind would be completely different. The forms of thinking in psychology are nothing but the formal structures of thought. There are three of them:
- concept;
- judgment;
- inference.
Types of thinking in psychology:
- practically effective;
- verbal-logical;
- visual-figurative.
This article will examine exactly what forms of thinking are.
Forms of thinking: concept
This category reflects the general properties of phenomena and objects. It is worth paying attention that we are talking about the essential properties.
Everything around is somewhat different. At the same time, it can be argued that everything around is not so unique. We can distinguish objects and phenomena precisely by the distinguishing features that they possess. Example, squares have the same sides, milk is always white, dogs bark.
Concepts can exist only in the form of meanings of words. It is also worth noting that it is with words that they are indicated. In concepts, all our knowledge about the objects and drying of the world is generalized.
Do not confuse concepts with perception or representation of memory, since in both of these cases our mind operates with something specific. In the case of the concept, there is no specificity (the concept of “horse” does not mean a specific horse, but all the horses at once).
Forms of Thinking: Judgment
Judgment is nothing but the affirmation or denial of something about an object or phenomenon of the world around it. This can be a denial or affirmation of relationships, properties, attributes and so on.
Judgment, in contrast to the concept, is expressed not by a word, but by a sentence. Judgments can be divided into:
- general and private;
- affirmative and negative;
- categorical and conditional.
In the first case, it all depends on whether all the objects and phenomena are discussed or only individual ones. An example of a general judgment: all living things breathe, an example of a particular: some dogs have long ears.
Affirmative statement: a wooden table, negative: it is not cold outside.
If in the judgment any condition is mentioned (if it rains, then) - it is conditional. There is no condition - it is categorical.
Judgments help uncover the essence of concepts. It is worth noting that a true judgment can be built only by knowing the essence of the concept in question.
In judgments can be expressed not only knowledge, but also subjective assessments.
Forms of Thinking: Inference
In this case, from one or several judgments at once, we get new ones. They can be:
- deductive;
- inductive;
- Similarly.
Deduction is a movement from the whole to the part (from the general to the particular). Everything in this case is based on the fact that a person on the basis of some general laws cognizes certain phenomena and objects.
In induction, everything happens the other way around. Thought moves from the general to the particular. That is, general laws are established on the basis of any particular phenomena or objects.
Analogy is the movement of thought from particular to particular. In other words, a person studies two similar subjects or phenomena, and draws some conclusions based on the information received. It is important to note that the objects in question must have at least some common features.
Example of deductive inference:
All people lie. Vaculin man. Vaculin is lying.
Example of inductive inference:
The seagull has a beak. The crow has a beak. Every bird should have a beak.
Example of inference by analogy:
My cheap tv has broken. The neighbor’s cheap TV is broken. All cheap TVs break.
Thus, a person using the described forms of thinking cognizes the surrounding reality.