Abstract thinking is a type of thinking in which it is possible, abstracting from small details, to look at the situation as a whole. This property allows you to cross the border of rules and norms to some extent and make new discoveries. In childhood, the development of this ability should be given enough time, because such an approach in the future will help to quickly find non-standard solutions and the most optimal ways out of this situation. Very often, when hiring, employers check abstract thinking with potential employees. The test helps to assess a person’s ability to cope with problems, find solutions and process unfamiliar information.
Forms
The features of abstract thinking are its various forms: concept, judgment, inference. For the correct perception of the term in question, it is very important to understand the specifics of each of these definitions.
The concept
This is a form of thinking in which one or more objects are perceived as one or more signs, each of which must be significant. A single word or a phrase can define a concept, for example, “chair”, “grass”, “mathematics teacher”, “tall man”.
Judgment
This is the form in which there is a denial or affirmation of a phrase that describes objects, the world, laws and relationships. Judgment, in turn, is of two types: simple and complex. A simple judgment, for example, may sound like this: "a boy is painting a house." A complex judgment is expressed in a different form, for example, "the train started moving, the platform was empty."
Inference
This is a form of thinking in which one conclusion (or several) make a conclusion, which is a new proposition. Sources that help shape the final version are prerequisites, and the bottom line is the conclusion. For example: “All birds can fly. The tit flies. A tit is a bird. ”
Abstract thinking is a process in which a person is able to freely operate with a concept, a judgment, a conclusion, that is, categories, the meaning of which can only be understood in relation to everyday life.
The development of abstract thinking
Naturally, this ability is developed in all different ways. Some people paint beautifully, others write poetry, and others draw abstract thought. However, it is quite possible to form it; for this purpose, in early childhood, the brain should be given reasons to think.
Today, there are a huge number of different specialized print publications that train the mind: puzzles, collections of tasks on logic, and so on. For the development of abstract thinking in your child or at home, you need to devote only 30-50 minutes to such exercises twice a week. The effect of such exercises will not take long. It is proved that at an early age the brain is much easier to cope with this kind of tasks. The more training you have, the faster the result.
With a complete lack of skills to think as a whole, it is difficult for a person to not only realize himself in creative activities. There may also be problems with the study of disciplines, in which there are a lot of abstract key concepts. Correctly developed abstract thinking is an opportunity to discover the unsolved mysteries of nature, to know that which was not previously known to anyone, to distinguish between falsehood and truth. In addition, a distinctive feature of this method of cognition is that it does not require direct contact with the studied object, and important conclusions and conclusions can be made remotely.
Psychology: thinking, types of thinking
In the thought process, the ratio of the word, image, action can be different. Depending on this, some species are distinguished.
Concrete-effective, or practical, is aimed at solving specific tasks in the context of organizational, constructive, industrial or other human activities. In this case, it is, first of all, constructive, technical thinking. Its characteristic features are attention to details, pronounced observation and the ability to correctly use these skills in a specific situation, the ability to quickly switch from mental activity to action and vice versa.
Artistic, or specifically figurative, is characterized by a person’s ability to generalize and the ability to translate abstract thoughts into concrete images.
Verbal-logical, or abstract thinking, is the individual’s ability to find common patterns in society and nature. Concepts, broad categories come to the fore, and representations and images play a secondary role.
Thinking in the process of historical development
Initially, the formation of human intelligence was directly influenced by practical activity. So, experimentally, people have learned to measure land. On this basis, the emergence of a special theoretical science - geometry.
From the genetic point of view, the earliest type of mental activity is practical thinking; actions with objects are of paramount importance (in animals this ability is observed in its infancy). It becomes clear that this particular type of cognition of oneself and the world around is the basis of a visual-figurative process. Its characteristic feature is the operation in the mind with visual images.
The highest step is abstract thinking. However, here, brain activity is inseparable from practice.
Depending on the content, mental activity is practical, artistic, and scientific. Action is a structural unit of a practically effective way of cognition, an image is artistic, a concept is scientific.
All three species are closely related. Many people have the same ability to act, imaginative thinking, and abstract perception. However, depending on the nature of the tasks to be solved, one particular type comes to the fore, then it is replaced by another, after which it is replaced by a third. For example, to solve everyday problems, practical thinking is required; for a scientific report, abstract.
Types of knowledge by the nature of tasks
The tasks set for a person can be standard and non-standard, depending on this, as well as on operational procedures, the following types of thinking are distinguished.
Algorithmic. It is based on pre-established rules, a generally accepted sequence of actions that are required to solve typical problems.
Heuristic. Productive, aimed at solving non-standard tasks.
Discursive. Based on a set of interconnected inferences.
Creative. Helps a person make discoveries, achieve fundamentally new results.
Productive. It leads to new cognitive results.
Reproductive. Using this type of person reproduces the results obtained previously. In this case, thinking and memory are inextricable.
Abstract thinking is the most important tool in human hands, which makes it possible to comprehend the deepest layers of truth, to know the unknown, to make a great discovery, to create a work of art.