Thinking- socially determined, inextricably linked with speech, mental process of searching and discovering new things, i.e. the process of a generalized and mediated reflection of reality in the course of analysis and synthesis.
Thinking as a special mental process has a number of specific characteristics and signs.
The first such sign is generalized reflection of reality, since thinking is a reflection of the general in objects and phenomena real world and the application of generalizations to individual objects and phenomena.
The second, no less important, sign of thinking is indirect knowledge of objective reality. The essence of indirect cognition is that we are able to make judgments about the properties or characteristics of objects and phenomena without direct contact with them, but by analyzing indirect information.
The next most important characteristic feature thinking is that thinking is always associated with the decision of one or another tasks, arising in the process of cognition or in practical activity. The thinking process begins to manifest itself most clearly only when a problematic situation arises that needs to be solved. Thinking always starts with question, the answer to which is purpose thinking
An extremely important feature of thinking is the inextricable connection with speech. The close connection between thinking and speech is expressed primarily in the fact that thoughts are always clothed in speech form. We always think in words, that is, we cannot think without uttering words.
Types of thinking.
The following types of thinking are distinguished:
- Visual and effective - here the solution to the problem is carried out using a real transformation of the situation based on a motor act. Those. the task is given clearly in a concrete form and the method of solution is practical action. This type of thinking is typical for a child preschool age. This type of thinking also exists in higher animals.
Visual-figurative - a person recreates the situation necessary to solve a problem in a figurative form. Begins to form in older preschool age. In this case, in order to think, the child does not have to manipulate the object, but must clearly perceive or visualize this object.
- Verbal-logical(theoretical, reasoning, abstract) - thinking appears primarily in the form of abstract concepts and reasoning. Begins to develop at school age. Mastery of concepts occurs in the process of mastering various sciences. At the end of schooling, a system of concepts is formed. Moreover, we use concepts that sometimes do not have a direct figurative expression (honesty, pride). The development of verbal-logical thinking does not mean that the previous two types do not develop or disappear altogether. On the contrary, children and adults continue to develop all types of thinking. For example, an engineer or designer achieves greater perfection in visual and effective thinking (or when mastering new technology). In addition, all types of thinking are closely interrelated.
From the point of view of the originality of the problems being solved, thinking can be: creative(productive) and reproducing (reproductive). Creative is aimed at creating new ideas, reproductive is the application of ready-made knowledge and skills.
Forms of thinking - concepts, judgments, conclusions.
Concept- a thought that reflects general, essential and features objects and phenomena of reality (for example, the concept of “person”). There are concepts everyday(acquired through practical experience) and scientific(purchased during the training process). Concepts arise and develop in the process of development of science and technology. In them, people record the results of experience and knowledge.
Judgment - reflection of connections between objects and phenomena of reality or between their properties and characteristics.
Inference- such a connection between thoughts (concepts, judgments), as a result of which from one or more judgments we obtain another judgment, extracting it from the content of the original judgments.
Thinking processes.
There are several basic mental processes (mental operations) with the help of which mental activity is carried out.
Analysis- mental division of an object or phenomenon into its constituent parts, highlighting individual features in it. Analysis can be practical or mental.
Synthesis- mental connection of individual elements, parts and features into a single whole. But synthesis is not a mechanical connection of parts.
Analysis and synthesis are inextricably linked and provide comprehensive knowledge of reality. Analysis provides knowledge of individual elements, and synthesis, based on the results of analysis, provides knowledge of the object as a whole.
Comparison- comparison of objects and phenomena in order to find similarities or differences between them. Thanks to this thinking process, we understand most objects, because... we know an object only by equating it with something or distinguishing it from something.
As a result of comparison, we identify something common in the compared objects. That. Thus, a generalization is built on the basis of comparison.
Generalization - mental combination of objects into groups according to those common characteristics that are highlighted during the comparison process. Through this process, conclusions, rules and classifications are made (apples, pears, plums - fruits).
Abstraction consists in the fact that, by isolating any properties of the object being studied, a person is distracted from the rest. By abstraction, concepts are created (length, breadth, quantity, equality, value, etc.).
Specification involves the return of thought from the general and abstract to the concrete in order to reveal the content (give an example of a rule).
Thinking as a problem solving process.
The need for thinking arises primarily when, in the course of life, a person faces new problem. Those. thinking is necessary in situations in which a new goal arises, and the old methods of activity are no longer sufficient to achieve it. Such situations are called problematic . It is in a problem situation that the thinking process begins. In the course of activity, a person encounters something unknown, thinking is immediately included in the activity, and the problematic situation turns into a task conscious of the person.
Task - the goal of an activity given under certain conditions and requiring, in order to achieve it, the use of means adequate to these conditions. Any task includes: target, condition(known) what you're looking for(unknown). Depending on the nature of the final goal, tasks are distinguished practical(aimed at transforming material objects) and theoretical(aimed at understanding reality, for example, studying).
Principle of solving the problem : the unknown is always connected with something known, i.e. the unknown, interacting with the known, reveals some of its qualities.
Thinking and problem solving are closely related to each other. But this connection is not clear-cut. Problem solving is carried out only with the help of thinking. But thinking is manifested not only in solving problems, but also, for example, in acquiring knowledge, understanding text, posing a problem, i.e. for cognition (mastery of experience).
Individual characteristics of thinking.
Each person's thinking has some differences in certain properties.
Independence- a person’s ability to put forward new problems and find the necessary solutions without resorting to frequent help from other people.
Latitude- this is when a person’s cognitive activity covers various areas(broad outlook).
Flexibility- the ability to change the solution plan outlined at the beginning if it no longer satisfies.
Rapidity- the ability of a person to quickly understand difficult situation, think quickly and make a decision.
Depth- the ability to penetrate into the essence of the most complex issues, the ability to see a problem where other people do not have a question (you need to have a Newtonian head to see a problem in a falling apple).
Criticality- the ability to objectively evaluate one’s own and others’ thoughts (not consider one’s thoughts to be absolutely true).
Types of thinking are common to all people, although each person has a number of specific cognitive abilities. In other words, each person can adopt and develop different thought processes.
Content:
Thinking is not innate, but rather develops. Although all personality and cognitive characteristics of people motivate a preference for one or more types of thinking, some people can develop and practice any type of thinking.
Although thought has traditionally been interpreted as a specific and limited activity, this process is not straightforward. That is, there is no single way to carry out the processes of thinking and reasoning.
In fact, many specific ways of thinking have been identified. For this reason, today the idea is that people can imagine different ways thinking.
Types of human thinking
It should be noted that every type of human thinking more efficient in performing specific tasks. Certain cognitive activities can benefit more than one type of thinking.
Therefore, it is important to know and learn to develop different types thinking. This fact makes it possible to make maximum use of a person’s cognitive abilities and develop different abilities to solve various problems.
Deductive thinking is the type of thinking that allows you to draw a conclusion from a number of premises. That is, it is a mental process that begins with the “general” in order to achieve the “specific.”
This type of thinking focuses on the cause and origin of things. It requires detailed analysis of aspects of a problem to be able to draw conclusions and possible solutions.
This is a method of reasoning that is very often used in Everyday life. People analyze elements and everyday situations to draw conclusions.
Beyond day-to-day work, deductive reasoning is vital to the development of scientific processes. It is based on deductive reasoning: it analyzes related factors to develop hypotheses and draw a conclusion.
Critical thinking is a mental process based on analyzing, understanding, and evaluating how knowledge that purports to represent things is organized.
Critical thinking uses knowledge to reach an effective conclusion that is more reasonable and justifiable.
Therefore, critical thinking evaluates ideas analytically to lead them to concrete conclusions. These conclusions are based on the morals, values and personal principles of the individual.
Thus, through this type of thinking, cognitive ability is combined with. Therefore, it determines not only the way of thinking, but also the way of being.
Adoption critical thinking directly affects the functionality of a person as it makes him more intuitive and analytical, allowing him to make good and wise decisions based on specific realities.
Inductive thinking defines a way of thinking that is the opposite of deductive thinking. Thus, this way of thinking is characterized by a search for explanations about the general.
Obtaining conclusions on a large scale. It looks for distant situations in order to turn them into similar ones and thus generalizes situations, but without resorting to analysis.
Therefore, the goal of inductive reasoning is to study tests that measure the likelihood of arguments, as well as the rules for constructing strong inductive arguments.
Analytical thinking is breaking down, separating and analyzing information. It is characterized by orderliness, that is, it represents a sequence of the rational: it goes from the general to the particular.
It always specializes in finding an answer, therefore in searching for arguments.
Investigative thinking focuses on investigating things. Does this in a thorough, engaged and persistent manner.
It consists of a mixture of creativity and analysis. That is, part of the evaluation and examination of elements. But its purpose does not end with the examination itself, but requires the formulation of new questions and hypotheses in accordance with the examined aspects.
As its name suggests, this type of thinking is fundamental to research and development and the evolution of species.
Systems or systematic thinking is the type of reasoning that occurs in a system formed by various subsystems or interrelated factors.
It consists of a highly structured type of thinking whose goal is to understand a more complete and less simple view of things.
Try to understand the functioning of things and solve the problems that their properties create. This involves developing complex thinking that has so far been applied to three main fields: physics, anthropology and sociopolitics.
Creative thinking involves the cognitive processes that create the ability to create. This fact motivates the development of elements that are new or different from the rest through thought.
Thus, creative thinking can be defined as the acquisition of knowledge characterized by originality, flexibility, plasticity and fluidity.
It is one of the most valuable cognitive strategies today because it allows you to frame, construct, and solve problems in new ways.
Developing this type of thinking is not easy, so there are certain techniques that can achieve this.
Synthetic thinking is characterized by the analysis of the various elements that make up things. Its main purpose is to reduce ideas on a certain topic.
It consists of a type of vital argument for teaching and personal study. Thinking about synthesis allows elements to be more reminiscent as they undergo a process of synthesis.
It is a personal process in which each person forms a significant whole from the parts that the subject represents. In this way, a person can remember several features of a concept while encompassing them in a more general and representative concept.
Interrogative thinking is based on questioning and questioning important aspects.
Thus, interrogative thinking defines the way of thinking that arises from the use of questions. There is always a reason for this reasoning, because it is this element that allows you to develop your own thinking and receive information.
Through the questions raised, data was obtained to enable a final conclusion to be reached. This type of thinking is mainly used to resolve issues in which the most important element is information obtained through third parties.
Diverse thinking
Diverse thinking, also known as lateral thinking, is a type of reasoning that discusses, doubts, and consistently seeks alternatives.
It is a thinking process that generates creative ideas through the exploration of multiple solutions. It is the antithesis of logical thinking and tends to occur spontaneously and fluidly.
As the name suggests, its main purpose is based on divergence from previously established solutions or elements. Thus, it tunes a type of thinking closely related to creativity.
It consists of a type of thinking that does not seem natural in people. People tend to associate and connect similar elements with each other. On the other hand, diversified thinking tries to find different solutions to those that are carried out as usual.
Convergent thinking
On the other hand, convergent thinking is a type of reasoning that is the opposite of divergent thinking.
In fact, while divergent thinking is driven by neural processes in the right hemisphere of the brain, convergent thinking will be driven by processes in the left hemisphere.
It is characterized by functioning through associations and relationships between elements. It has no ability to imagine, seek or explore alternative thoughts and usually results in the creation of a single idea.
Intelligent Thinking
This type of reasoning, recently introduced and coined by Michael Gelb, makes reference to the combination between divergent and convergent thought.
Thus, intellectual thinking, which includes aspects of details and evaluators convergent thinking and connects them to alternative and new processes associated with divergent thinking.
The development of this reasoning allows us to connect creativity with analysis, postulating as thought with a high ability to achieve effective solutions in several areas.
Conceptual thinking
Conceptual thinking involves the development of reflection and self-assessment of problems. It is closely related to creative thinking, and its main goal is to find concrete solutions.
However, unlike diversity reasoning, this type of reasoning focuses on reviewing pre-existing associations.
Conceptual thinking involves abstraction and reflection and is very important in various scientific, academic, everyday and professional fields.
It is also characterized by the development of four basic intellectual operations:
Subordination: consists of linking specific concepts with more broad concepts in which they are included.
Coordination: It consists of linking specific concepts included in broader and more general concepts.
Infraordination: deals with a certain relationship between two concepts and aims to determine the specific features of concepts, relationships with others.
Elimination: It consists of detecting elements that are characterized by being different or not equal to other elements.
Metaphorical thinking
Metaphorical thinking is based on making new connections. This is a very creative type of reasoning, but it does not focus on creating or obtaining new elements, but on new relationships between existing elements.
With this type of thinking it is possible to create stories, develop imagination and generate through these elements new connections between well differentiated aspects that some aspects share.
Traditional thinking
Traditional thinking is characterized by the use of logical processes. It is solution-focused and focuses on finding similar real-life situations to find elements that may be useful for resolution.
It is usually developed using rigid and pre-designed schemes. This is one of the foundations of vertical thinking, in which logic takes on a unidirectional role and develops a linear and sequential path.
This is one of the most commonly used types of thinking in everyday life. It is not suitable for creative or original elements, but it is very useful for solving everyday situations and is relatively simple.
Thinking is a process of cognition, which is characterized by a generalized and indirect reflection of the surrounding reality.
Thinking helps us build a system of inferences and gain new knowledge. For example, when we see tree branches swaying strongly, we conclude that there is wind outside.
Thinking is closely related to action and speech.
A person studies reality by influencing it. Thus, action is the primary form of existence of thinking.
Various mental operations were first created as practical ones, then they turned into operations of theoretical thinking.
Human thinking is impossible without language. The relationship between the quality of problem solving and the formulation of the problem out loud or silently has been proven. So, when a problem is formulated out loud, it is solved much better, and vice versa, when the tongue is fixed (pinched between the teeth), the quality of solving the problem deteriorates.
Types of thinking
In genetic psychology, the following types of thinking are distinguished:
- visually effective;
- visual-figurative;
- verbal-logical.
Visual - actionable thinking
is expressed in solving problems using real, physical transformation of the situation, manipulation of objects. Children under three years of age have this form of thinking. The child compares objects by placing or placing them next to each other; synthesizes by putting together a “house” from cubes or sticks; classifies and generalizes, arranging cubes by color, etc. This is how a child thinks through actions. The movement of the hands is ahead of thinking, which is why it is called manual.
In adults, this type of thinking manifests itself when, for example, they do housework, when rearranging furniture in a room, or when it is necessary to use unfamiliar equipment. Such thinking is possible when the results of an action cannot be fully predicted.
Visually - figurative thinking has the following characteristics:
- helps analyze, compare and generalize various images, ideas about phenomena and objects;
- recreates all the diversity various characteristics subject;
- almost inseparable from the imagination.
Visual-figurative thinking manifests itself in preschool children from four to seven years old. Action in this type of thinking fades into the background; the child does not have to touch the object with his hands, he needs to clearly perceive and visually imagine this object.
A characteristic feature of a child’s thinking is clarity.
In adults, visual-figurative thinking manifests itself, for example, when renovating an apartment. A person can imagine in advance what the wallpaper, ceiling color, etc. will look like.
Verbal and logical thinking
– this is abstract thinking, which is characterized by the use of concepts, logical constructions, which sometimes do not have a direct figurative expression (for example, value, honesty, pride, etc.).
With the help of this type of thinking, an individual establishes general patterns of development of processes in nature and society and generalizes visual material.
Thinking includes the following types of operations:
- Comparison - comparison of things, phenomena and their properties, highlighting similarities and differences;
- Analysis is the mental dissection of a thing or phenomenon to isolate its constituent elements;
- Synthesis is a process opposite to analysis, which restores the whole by finding significant connections and relationships;
- Abstraction - highlighting one distinctive aspect of the property of an object or phenomenon;
- Generalization (generalization) - discarding individual characteristics while maintaining common ones, revealing essential connections.
Verbal-logical thinking has its own algorithm. First, a person considers one judgment, then adds another to it and makes a logical conclusion based on them. For example:
- 1st proposition: all metals conduct electricity.
- 2nd judgment: iron is a metal.
- Conclusion: iron conducts electricity.
Verbal-logical thinking is the highest form of thinking; with its help, a person can reflect complex connections, relationships, form concepts, draw conclusions and solve complex abstract problems.
Predicative thinking
Thinking does not always obey logical laws. Thus, Z. Freud described predicative thinking- a type of illogical thought process. If two sentences have the same predicates or endings, then people unconsciously associate their subjects with each other.
Advertisements work on predictive thinking. For example, the creator of the ad claims that “successful people wash their hair with Pantene Pro-V shampoo, hoping that the person will reason illogically, something like this:
- Successful people wash their hair with Pantene Pro-V shampoo.
- I wash my hair with Pantene Pro-V shampoo.
- This means I am a successful person.
A person who cannot think according to the laws of logic, critically comprehend information, is fooled by propaganda or fraudulent advertising.
Predicative thinking is pseudological thinking in which different subjects are unconsciously associated with each other based on the presence of one common predicate.
Critical thinking can be developed by:
- Distinguish judgments based on logic from judgments based on emotions and feelings.
- In any information received, you must learn to see the positive and negative sides("advantages and disadvantages").
- You need to notice inconsistencies in what you see and hear.
- Don't rush to conclusions if you don't have enough information.
It is important to note that all types of thinking are interconnected, and individual species can transform into each other. For example, it is difficult to separate visual-figurative and verbal-logical thinking when you have to work with diagrams and graphs. Typically, a person uses all types of thinking, but one type may predominate.
Depending on the degree and nature of the novelty of information comprehended by a person, the following types of thinking are distinguished:
- reproductive;
- productive;
- creative thinking.
Reproductive thinking is reflected in the memory's reproduction of certain logical rules, without establishing new associations, comparisons, analysis, etc. This can happen consciously, on an intuitive or subconscious level (for example, solving typical problems using a predetermined algorithm).
Productive and creative types of thinking go beyond the limits of available facts; they highlight hidden properties in given objects, identify unusual connections, ways of solving a problem, etc.
If in the process of thinking new knowledge or information is born for a person, but not new for society, then this is productive thinking. If, as a result of mental activity, something new appears for a person and for society, then creative thinking is manifested here.
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By accepting information from the world around us, it is with the participation of thinking that we can realize and transform it. Their characteristics also help us with this. A table with this data is presented below.
What is thinking
This is the highest process of cognition of the surrounding reality, subjective perception. Its uniqueness lies in the perception of external information and its transformation in consciousness. Thinking helps a person gain new knowledge, experience, and creatively transform ideas that have already been formed. It helps to expand the boundaries of knowledge, helping to change the existing conditions for solving assigned problems.
This process is the engine of human development. In psychology there is no separately operating process - thinking. It will necessarily be present in all other cognitive actions of a person. Therefore, in order to somewhat structure this transformation of reality, types of thinking and their characteristics were identified in psychology. A table with these data helps to better assimilate information about the activities of this process in our psyche.
Features of this process
This process has its own characteristics that distinguish it from other mental
- Mediocrity. This means that a person can indirectly recognize an object through the properties of another. Types of thinking and their characteristics are also involved here. Briefly describing this property, we can say that cognition occurs through the properties of another object: we can transfer some acquired knowledge to a similar unknown object.
- Generality. A combination of several properties of an object. The ability to generalize helps a person to learn new things in the surrounding reality.
These two properties and processes of this human cognitive function contain general characteristics thinking. Characteristics of types of thinking are a separate area of general psychology. Since types of thinking are characteristic of different age categories and are formed according to their own rules.
Types of thinking and their characteristics, table
A person perceives structured information better, so some information about the types of cognitive process of cognition of reality and their description will be presented systematically.
The best way to understand what types of thinking are and their characteristics is the table.
Visual-effective thinking, description
In psychology, much attention is paid to the study of thinking as the main process of cognition of reality. After all, this process develops differently for each person, it works individually, and sometimes the types of thinking and their characteristics do not correspond to age standards.
For preschoolers, visual and effective thinking comes first. It begins its development in infancy. Descriptions by age are presented in the table.
| Age period | Characteristics of thinking | |
| Infancy | In the second half of the period (from 6 months), perception and action develop, which form the basis for the development of this type of thinking. At the end of infancy, the child can solve basic problems based on the manipulation of objects | An adult hides a toy in right hand. The baby first opens the left one, and after failure, reaches for the right one. Having found a toy, he rejoices at the experience. He learns about the world in a visually effective way. |
| Early age | By manipulating things, the child quickly learns important connections between them. This age period is a vivid representation of the formation and development of visual and effective thinking. The baby performs external orienting actions, thereby actively exploring the world. | While collecting a full bucket of water, the child noticed that he reached the sandbox with an almost empty bucket. Then, while manipulating the bucket, he accidentally closes the hole, and the water remains at the same level. Perplexed, the baby experiments until he understands that to maintain the water level it is necessary to close the hole. |
| Preschool age | During this period, this type of thinking gradually passes into the next, and already at the end of the age stage the child masters verbal thinking. | First, to measure the length, the preschooler takes a paper strip, applying it to everything that is interesting. This action is then transformed into images and concepts. |
Visual-figurative thinking
Types of thinking in psychology and their characteristics occupy an important place, since the age-related formation of other cognitive processes depends on their development. With each age stage, more and more mental functions are involved in the development of the process of cognition of reality. In visual-figurative thinking, imagination and perception play almost a key role.
| Characteristic | Combinations | Transformations |
| This type of thinking is represented by certain operations with images. Even if we don’t see something, we can recreate it in our minds through this type of thinking. The child begins to think this way in the middle of preschool age (4-6 years). An adult also actively uses this type. | We can get a new image through combinations of objects in the mind: a woman, choosing clothes for going out, imagines in her mind how she will look in a certain blouse and skirt or dress and scarf. This is the action of visual-figurative thinking. | Also, a new image is obtained through transformations: looking at a flowerbed with one plant, you can imagine how it will look with decorative stone or many different plants. |
Verbal and logical thinking
It is carried out using logical manipulations with concepts. Such operations are designed to find something in common between different objects and phenomena in society and the environment around us. Here images take a secondary place. In children, the beginnings of this type of thinking occur at the end of the preschool period. But the main development of this type of thinking begins at primary school age.
| Age | Characteristic |
| Junior school age | When a child enters school, he already learns to operate with elementary concepts. The main basis for operating them are:
At this stage, intellectualization of mental processes occurs. |
| Adolescence | During this period, thinking takes on a qualitatively different color - reflection. Theoretical concepts are already assessed by the teenager. In addition, such a child can be distracted from visual material, reasoning logically in verbal terms. Hypotheses appear. |
| Adolescence | Thinking based on abstraction, concepts and logic becomes systemic, creating an internal subjective model of the world. At this age stage, verbal and logical thinking becomes the basis of the young person’s worldview. |
Empirical thinking
The characteristics of the main types of thinking include not only the three types described above. This process is also divided into empirical or theoretical and practical.
Theoretical thinking represents the knowledge of rules, various signs, and the theoretical basis of basic concepts. Here you can build hypotheses, but test them in practice.
Practical thinking
Practical thinking involves transforming reality, adjusting it to your goals and plans. It is limited in time, there is no opportunity to study many options for testing various hypotheses. Therefore, for a person it opens up new opportunities for understanding the world.
Types of thinking and their characteristics depending on the tasks being solved and the properties of this process
They also divide types of thinking depending on the tasks and the subjects of the tasks. The process of cognition of reality happens:
- intuitive;
- analytical;
- realistic;
- autistic;
- egocentric;
- productive and reproductive.
Every person has all these types to a greater or lesser extent.
To think, to think, to cognize, to create - nature has given each of us this amazing ability. From the moment a person is born, the human brain begins to read information from the outside world, and this is how a complex and multifaceted thinking process begins. What is thinking? We will consider its types and their characteristics in this article.
General concept
Since ancient times, people have been trying to understand what thinking is, how it originated, how it works, how this mysterious mechanism works. Scientists and philosophers tried to uncover the secrets of human consciousness and study this invisible, intangible matter. Many treatises, books, scientific works and articles. Human mental abilities have been studied and are still being studied by various scientific disciplines, but remain completely unknown. Of course, we also will not be able to perform a miracle and reveal the phenomenon of the human mind as such. But let’s look at this concept from the perspective of psychological science and try to understand the numerous types of thinking and their characteristics.
In psychology there are many definitions of thinking. Discussions regarding this issue are ongoing. There is no need to give all the examples and analyze each of them in detail.
The main thing is that the mind is a unique gift that is inherent only to man, it is a mental process that allows us to know the world. The brain reads information from the outside, analyzes it, draws certain conclusions, and on their basis a person takes actions.
At the very beginning of an individual’s life, the process of cognition seems simple and primitive (of course, only at first glance), but as it develops and matures it becomes more and more complex. Information accumulated over time makes it possible to separate and generalize, invent and reason, design and produce, build and create, create an infinite number of variations and combinations of what is happening in the world. But the basis of all these actions is the ability to think given to man by nature. And in psychology there is such a thing as a typology of thinking, in which it is divided into types and types, classified into various groups according to certain criteria.
Classification
A separate subject of study in psychology is the classification and characteristics of types of thinking. There are many visual tables that are replete with a variety of information on this topic. In their abundance it can be difficult to understand and understand the whole essence of this complex system. Let's try to identify several main groups that researchers focus on Special attention. Main types of thinking:
This group includes:
- visually effective;
- visual-figurative;
- objective-effective;
- abstract logical thinking.
By the nature of the tasks being solved
Thinking can be:
- theoretical;
- practical.
By degree of reflection
There are such varieties:
- analytical;
- intuitive;
- realistic;
- autistic;
- egocentric.
By degree of novelty
May be:
- productive;
- reproductive, sometimes called introverted.
According to the degree of arbitrariness
There are these types:
- arbitrary;
- involuntary.
According to personal characteristics
Varieties:
- masculine;
- feminine;
- positive;
- negative;
- strategic;
- idealistic;
- irrational;
- rational;
- analytical;
- right hemisphere and left hemisphere;
- synthetic.
Scientists identify many more types of thinking depending on the results of a person’s activities, his mental state, worldview, perception of reality, etc.
Each of these types deserves personal attention and is considered separately in psychology, but we will consider only those indicated above.
One of the varieties of rich choice identified by psychologists is classified by content. This group includes visual-effective, figurative, objective-effective and abstract-logical thinking.
- Visual-effective thinking. The individual, when faced with immediate reality, activates this type of comprehension. He focuses on the concrete perception of objects. Such mental activity is characteristic of early childhood and begins to develop from infancy. A child, who does not yet know how to think, speak or do anything like an adult, explores the world through touching objects and various experiments with them. He literally tests the world with his teeth, gnawing them, knocking them against each other, and sometimes breaking them. Thus, carrying out observation, performing certain manipulations with things, small man studies the world and draws its first conclusions from the impressions received. In adulthood, visual-effective consciousness is typical for workers in the production sector.
- Visual-figurative thinking. It is based on visual images. It begins to develop in children from the middle of preschool age, and is dominant until the end of early school age. An adult also constantly uses visual-figurative perception throughout his life. The emphasis in this case is on the presentation of various objects, phenomena, situations, as well as on their various transformations and transformations in the human imagination.
- Abstract logical thinking. In the course of thoughts of this nature, a person operates with abstract, abstract, non-specific concepts. This process occurs along the following chain: perception, understanding, comprehension, generalization. That is, a person, comprehending for himself the essence, meaning and significance of something, ultimately creates his own individual generalized and abstract opinion regarding objects, phenomena, situations, independent of other members of society.
- Subject-effective thinking characteristic of people who for centuries have built and continue to build the entire objective world around us. They come up with ideas and turn them into reality.
These types of minds, like steps, gradually lay out the path of human development from the cradle to his full formation as a person.
By nature of tasks
Separately, psychologists describe the types of mental abilities based on the nature of the goals set and the tasks performed.
- Theoretical thinking. Current laws, rules, norms, theories, concepts, teachings - all this and much more are the product of a theoretical thought process that allows you to analyze accumulated knowledge and ideas, compare them, classify them and form new ones.
- Empirical thinking– a type of theoretical thinking. It is characterized by the same features, but with it the main role will be played by testing the hypothesis in practice, and not just in theory.
- Practical thinking. Everything here is relatively simple: the fruits of theory are used in practice and tested in action. All kinds of projects, plans, schemes, goals transform theoretical concepts into actual practical reality. As a result of this type of thinking, an incorporeal thought takes on a tangible form through action.
By degree of reflection
Reflection is a look at oneself, inside oneself, deep into one’s consciousness, as well as at the result of one’s own actions and their rethinking.
Based on this concept, psychologists have identified another group of types of thinking.
- Analytical thinking. It is capable of dividing objects, phenomena, situations and problems into parts, highlighting and studying the most important of them. We observe, compare, find cause-and-effect relationships, draw conclusions, find the main thing and structure large amounts of information thanks to our analytical abilities. The process of such work is long and consistent.
- Intuitive Thinking to some extent, it is the antipode of the analytical, as it passes quickly and unconsciously. There is no logic, no analysis, or at least any reasonable explanation for what conclusions a person’s consciousness makes at the moment of intuition.
- Realistic thinking. No evidence means no belief in anything. A realistic perception of reality gives a person the opportunity to think sensibly, soberly, adequately and logically. During such a thought process, a person does not rely on his personal expectations and desires; he evaluates the world around him only from the standpoint of reality, truth and fair criticism.
- Autistic thinking, on the contrary, puts at the forefront illusory desires that seem completely correct and feasible, even if they go against logic. There is no critical assessment of reality in this type of perception. People of this mindset are often found in artistic activities and in art.
- Egocentric thinking developed in children and adults with inflated self-esteem, excessive self-confidence, bordering on pathological narcissism. This is quite normal for children, as they think that the world around them revolves only around them. The child’s ego is at the center of the Universe, and everything that happens is perceived only from the position of the “I” reflector.
In egocentric adults, such an understanding of the world and oneself is already considered psychological problem or an incorrigible character trait.
By degree of novelty
According to the degree of novelty and originality, allocated separate place creative (productive) and reproductive image of consciousness.
- Productive thinking defines a person as a creator. Here the main role is played by human fantasy and imagination. It is creative people who are capable of creating completely new ideas and previously unprecedented projects. They generate an absolutely unique and original vision of the future material and spiritual objects of their work. New concepts and images, incomparable conclusions and conclusions - all these are the fruits of the work of creative consciousness.
- Reproductive thinking– the opposite of productive. This type of knowledge is based exclusively on what is already available in the world ready-made solutions, images, sources and templates. A complete lack of creative imagination and a focus only on reproducing previously acquired knowledge characterizes this type of mind. It is worth noting that people with a reproductive type of comprehension often have introverted personality traits.
According to the degree of arbitrariness
A group of types of thinking is distinguished according to the degree of arbitrariness.
Everything is explained quite simply here.
- Voluntary thinking a person is controlled by consciousness and will, the thought process is completely under his control.
- Involuntary thinking, on the contrary, exists on its own and is not subject to the efforts of human will. Everyone is familiar with the expressions “do it automatically,” “do it involuntarily,” “do it without realizing it,” so this is the situation when involuntary thinking carries out its functions. Involuntary consciousness is associated with the affective components of a person’s attitude towards objects and phenomena, various situations and problems, that is, with feelings and emotional reactions to objects in the surrounding world.
Depending on personal characteristics
There is a large group of types of thinking, depending on the personal characteristics of each person, which influence the predominance of one or another type of cognition and perception of the world.
- Male thinking. It is generally accepted that men think logically and straightforwardly, operate well with symbolic models and systems; as a rule, this process is always aimed at action and results. Men clearly differentiate between reason and emotions. In their opinion, feelings have an extremely negative impact on the transformation of thoughts into business results. According to one version, this happens because the left-hemisphere type of perception and processing of information predominates in the brain of men. The left hemisphere is responsible for speech, logic, analysis, operations with numbers, sequences, etc. In women, the right hemisphere of the brain dominates when working with information. Right-hemisphere cognition gives women imagination, daydreaming, emotionality, and excellent spatial orientation.
- Feminine thinking has similarities with intuitive thinking. Emotions always come first for the fair sex, so often many conclusions and conclusions are based on feelings and premonitions. Sometimes a woman’s mood controls her, and her train of thoughts can change along with changes in her mood. This is only a description of a tendency that often occurs, but psychologists do not claim that women have neither logic nor rationality. On the contrary, in certain situations, women show no less ability than men to analyze, generalize, plan and calculate the situation.
- Positive thinking. We are talking about optimism here. People with such mental traits tend to see opportunities to achieve their goals, even in the face of obstacles. Such individuals always manage to soberly, realistically, and most importantly, constructively, assess the situation and set themselves up for success.
- Negative thinking characteristic of pessimists. They are constantly dissatisfied with life, constantly complain about it, see insurmountable obstacles everywhere and in everything, thereby arousing pity and sympathy from those around them.
- Strategic Thinking. If you tend to create long-term plans and at the same time give clear forecasts, then you are a strategist. People with a strategic vision of the world are capable of strictly adhering to a goal, effectively assessing the path to achieving it and never deviating from it - as a rule, these are successful businessmen and managers.
- Idealistic thinking. An idealized view of the world is characteristic of idealists. Creating an ideal version of the world in their imagination, they project it onto reality. As a rule, a discrepancy occurs, and a person becomes very disappointed, refusing to accept the world as it is, imperfect and imperfect.
- Irrational thinking. Irrational people think illogically, give an incorrect assessment of phenomena and situations, cannot explain why they act one way or another, but at the same time they believe that they are doing everything right and are able to captivate those around them with their incomprehensible faith. It is often characteristic of schizoid disorders.
- Rational thinking. Arguments, facts, knowledge, skills, logic, reason - these are the foundations on which a person with rational intelligence relies. Emotions, feelings, experiences do not matter for such individuals. They always think sensibly and soberly, solve assigned tasks clearly and quickly, and find a constructive approach to everything.
- Analytical thinking. A person-analyst studies everything that happens around him slowly, thinking about everything in detail, thoroughly, always establishing the reasons for what is happening, since not a single phenomenon and not a single situation in his understanding and perception of the world can be causeless.
- Synthesizing thinking. Individual facts, scattered data, scraps of information are not a problem for a person with such a mind. He will certainly recreate a complete and clear picture, collecting it piece by piece. And such complex operations will not frighten him at all.
Unconscious thinking
The concept of unconscious thinking stands apart in psychology. It implies the process of cognition of the surrounding world by the unconscious segment of the mind. The unconscious is absolutely beyond the control of its owner, it is not controlled and exists as if by itself. It collects and stores absolutely all information read from the outside throughout a person’s life. You can compare this process with assembling parts of a construction set, only this happens automatically, regardless of our desire and concentration.
Information collected in the subconscious is used when the need arises. The result of the work of unconscious thinking is these are decisions made unconsciously by a person. We think that we act one way or another because we have long and persistently searched for a logical solution in a given situation, but we are not even aware of the influence of the unconscious on making this decision. Like the dark side of the moon, unconscious thinking is the most unexplored and most mysterious area of the human mind.
It is safe to say that it begins to develop intensively in preschool children, predominates in younger schoolchildren, and is especially dominant in first-graders.
Ways to determine the type of thinking
In psychology, there are several ways to determine the type of thinking and individual style. The testing method most often used for this purpose is. The tests were developed by experienced psychologists based on long research, collection and systematization of information about the characteristics of each type of intelligence. One of these tests was created according to the method of the famous American psychologist, a major researcher of cognitive processes, Jerome Bruner.
There is also the “Type of Thinking” technique, developed by psychologist Galina Rezalkina, which asks you to answer “yes” or “no” to a number of questions. After which points are calculated on the proposed scales - it becomes clear what type a person has.
