It has long been known that the concepts of “watch” and “see” are only partially synonymous. Experts have proved that these are different processes for the human brain: the first is closer to physiology, the second is associated with consciousness. So, several people can look at the same subject, but see it differently. The simplest example is a children's designer, from which children make up different figures-images. Such a creative ability to see not only through the eyes, but also through the imagination, has received a corresponding definition - visual thinking.
What it is?
This is an inborn gift of every person. However, with age, in some people it becomes aggravated and turns into a profession or lifestyle, while in others, on the contrary, it becomes dull for various reasons. In psychology, visual thinking is considered as a creative way of solving problems based on figurative modeling. We are faced with such a phenomenon every day and everywhere, from the presentation of the completion of work to the game of chess.
Discovery of Arnheim
The very concept of “visual thinking” belongs to the American psychologist Rudolf Arnheim, who discovered it in the last century. The essence of it is most clearly revealed by the example of the scientist himself, when two boys were asked how much time will be in half an hour, if now at 3:40. the first made a mathematical calculation. By 40 minutes, he added 30. Knowing that there was only 60 minutes in an hour, 10 of the resulting 70 minutes passed into the next hour. The result was 4:10. The second boy presented a round dial, where half an hour is half a circle. He mentally turned the arrow and got the same result as his predecessor.
Thus, the first boy solved the problem intellectually using numbers and mathematical knowledge, and the second visually. An important point here is that in the latter case, not illustrations for thoughts were used, but the very manifestation of thinking was activated.
Studying the specifics of such a process, Arnheim clearly distinguished visual thinking from the usual means of visualization (paintings, objects). Their difference lies, according to the scientist, in the very nature of phenomena. So, the first is not a passive object-image, but the product of a specific activity of the mind, a translator from the language of the image into the language of understanding, action and communication of this image with other objects. It was from this position that mnemonics arose - memorization based on visual thinking.
Scientific development
The theory of the specificity of thinking, proposed by an American psychologist, was continued in many studies of modern specialists and became the basis for the development of training methods and the development of mental abilities. A large number of such works are devoted to the problems of learning at school. After all, the same information is assimilated by children in different ways. Therefore, one of the tasks of educators is to teach the child to think visually. In this case, there is not just a dry and meaningless memorization of rules and texts, but the formation of their connection with the surrounding reality, the simultaneous correlation of theory with practice. Memorization based on visual thinking is an effective method of training the memory and developing the child's mental and creative abilities.
Training
As you can see, thinking visually is not superpower. This process is easy to train and improve, for which a lot of techniques and methods have been created. The simplest person receives, of course, at school, absorbing the basics of mnemonics. For example, when consonant Russian association words are used to memorize foreign words. Or to retell complex texts, use pictures with key events in the storytelling. Each subject has its own system of image associations that help to absorb information.
In visual thinking, an important role is given to the imagination. The first intuitive attempts to form it were made as early as childhood, when children, lying on the grass, try to “decipher” bizarre clouds. Imagination helps to open the deep compartments of the brain and pull out from them, at first glance, illogical and unexpected solutions.
Where to learn visual thinking?
Today this is not a science or a complex field of knowledge. In many countries, special trainings and seminars are held in which a person can get acquainted with the basic techniques, receive practical lessons, exchange experiences and achievements with other participants. However, some people resort to self-study. For this, there are many subject literature, manuals, audio courses.
How long will it take?
The question of time largely depends on the age and aspirations of the person himself. However, it takes literally minutes to learn basic techniques, the rest is a matter of practice frequency.
Experts recommend the use of visual thinking methods even in preschool age. However, the focus of this process should be taken into account. At an early age, it is used for the qualitative assimilation and use of information; in an adult, requirements increase and extend not only to cognitive activity.
Roem Technique
In 2011, the book "How to" Sell "Your Ideas Using Drawings" was published. The work belongs to Dan Roem - the largest modern specialist in the field of visual thinking. Today, he leads a successful consulting company that helps solve business problems using ordinary pictures.
The author of the technique considers visual thinking as a natural ability of a person to see mentally, thereby discovering ideas within himself that may go unnoticed and unrealized. This ability helps not only to see them, but also to develop and convey to other people, that is, to popularize.
goal
Dan Roem uses visual thinking as a tool to solve absolutely any problems. For this, in his opinion, it is only necessary to depict (draw) an exciting question, using the natural gifts of nature: eyes, hands and imagination. In this case, you should ask yourself general questions: “Who / what?”, “Where / when?” and “Why / why?” Such a picture for a person becomes a kind of “evacuation plan” or a strategy that allows you to rise above the situation and quickly find the safest way out of it, or, conversely, find a short and successful path to the goal. Thus, a person gradually learns to find and filter information, to imagine, supplement and explain it.
It is noteworthy that in mastering the technique the ability to draw well is optional. To depict the situation, a schematic picture is enough. The main thing is mental visualization.
The look of Sheremetyev
A similar question of successful problem solving was revealed by the Russian scientist Konstantin Sheremetyev, who has been studying intelligence for many years. He developed a special course for training a specific set of thinking tools (sights), allowing a person to be creatively approached to any life task.
The author presents the intellect (or brain) as a maze with many doors. When a person makes a choice, makes an important decision, he uses the usual logical thinking. However, this path does not always lead to success. In this case, there is an alternative option - visual thinking. Sheremetyev calls it the fastest, since through vision a person receives 90% of the information.
The author’s technique is also aimed at training the memory - quick memorization using visual images. Also, in the process of studying, a person acquires the skills to perceive and structure a huge flow of information.
The benefits of visual thinking
Among the opportunities that visual thinking provides, the main ones are:
- The ability to see the situation as a whole, which allows a person to quickly make the right decision.
- The ability to keep in mind a lot of information, while analyzing and structuring it for future use.
- The ability to see the essence of the problem, filter unnecessary data.
- Visual thinking is an effective way of knowing the world around us.
Advantages include the versatility of this type of mental process. So, Roem recommends visual thinking to be used in any situations: commercial, domestic, educational, creative, etc. Moreover, visualization techniques significantly save time and energy, making the selection process entertaining and enjoyable.
Practical use
The practice of visual thinking is subject to every person of conscious age. It is especially popular with people who generate ideas. After all, words are not always enough.
Currently, computer presentations are increasingly used in the educational and business process. They help to see what is not yet available and to “revive” the information communicated verbally in the mind. From this position, frequent users of visual thinking are:
- Company executives. A responsible position requires a responsible approach. Visual thinking in this case helps to find the right and original solutions, quickly make choices.
- Top managers and business consultants. People of these professions need to process a large amount of information, correctly respond to any changes, work energetically, efficiently, offering unique solutions.
- Athletes. Football players, chess players and everyone who needs a strategy often use visual thinking to predict the course of the game.
- Architects and designers. For people of these professions, visual thinking is the most important tool, which you simply don’t need to talk about.
- Teachers and lecturers. So that lectures and trainings do not turn into a dry stream of words, these specialists often use visual aids. But these are not just colorful pictures, but meaningful visualizers that form certain information connections.
- Psychologists. Of course, the psychological method cannot be ignored by the experts themselves. Very often, when consulting a patient, the psychologist asks to mentally imagine the problem, that is, to create an association. It can be an image of a person or an animal, or just an object. Depending on this, a logical chain of causes and effects is built that helps to penetrate the essence of the problem and find its solution.
results
Invaluable impact on child development. According to teachers, visual thinking, along with logical, should be active in the process of learning and understanding the world, since the use of visual materials in lessons helps to increase the level of knowledge. This method greatly facilitates the work, focuses the students on the subject, maintains interest. Learning ceases to be “blind” memorization, and turns into a fascinating immersion in the subject and the rapid assimilation of information.
As for the business, Roy is not in vain calling visual thinking the main tool for creating ideas. Thanks to simple schemes and drawing a situation, any problems are solved quickly and sometimes unexpectedly easily. In addition, this approach helps to simplify the task as much as possible, clearly state it and convey it to the audience. Thus, the team begins to think and act in a single direction, without conflicts and awkward moments of misunderstanding.