Handling abstract concepts. Abstract logical thinking
The generally accepted typology of thinking represents such as the abstract. The fundamental difference from other types is characteristic only of the human species: in animals that are inherent in others, this type is not expressed. In this article, we will learn what abstract thinking is and what features it gives a person, and we will also present a series of exercises to develop it.
Forms of abstract thinking
A distinctive feature of this type of thinking is its three components - concept, judgment, conclusion. In order to understand what this species is, its forms should be explained in detail.
concept
It is a form that reflects an object as one or a group of features. Moreover, each sign must be significant and justified. The concept is expressed by a phrase or a word: “dog”, “snow”, “blue-eyed woman”, “applicant of a polytechnic university”, etc.
Judgment
This is the form that denies or confirms the object, the world, the situation with some phrase. In this case, the judgment has 2 types - simple and complex. The first, for example, sounds like this: "a dog gnaws a bone." The second is in a slightly different form: "the girl got up, the bench was empty." Note that the second type has a narrative sentence form.
inference
It consists in a form that, from one proposition or group, summarizes, presenting a new proposition. It is this form that is the foundation of abstract-logical thinking.
Signs of abstract-logical thinking
There are main features of this form of thinking that most fully reflect its essence:
- the ability to operate with concepts, groups and criteria that do not exist in the real world;
- generalization and analysis;
- systematization of the received information;
- optional direct interaction with the outside world to identify its patterns;
- building cause-and-effect relationships, creating abstract models of any processes.
The concept of "abstract thinking" is rooted in logic, which, in turn, comes from China, India and Greece. By historical facts It can be assumed that the basis of logic was laid around the 4th century. BC. It happened almost simultaneously at different points. the globe, which only emphasizes the importance of abstractions and logical reasoning for the study of any subject, situation or world.
Logic is a branch of philosophy, which is the science of reasoning, laws, rules for drawing correct conclusions about the object that is subject to study.
Thus, abstract thinking is the main tool of logic, since allows you to abstract from the material, and build a chain of conclusions. Note that, unlike other sciences, logic has been developing and developing throughout the history of our world, since the appearance of man.
Presentation: "Defining the type of thinking"
Applying abstractions
Abstract thinking starts to develop in childhood from 5 to 7 years old. Before this age, children use other forms of thinking:
- from birth - visual and effective;
- from a year and a half - concrete-subject.
It should be noted that the above forms of the concept of "abstract thinking" remain with a person for life, because. help to establish a connection with the surrounding reality, regardless of age. But only an abstract form of thinking is the foundation of the learning process, the ability to know the world as a whole, as well as for any conscious activity. Most a prime example such activity is science. The basis of any science is the collection and systematization of the acquired knowledge.
Despite the fact that in many situations such processes are based on the function of observing material objects and phenomena, the foundation of scientific tools is analysis, synthesis, generalization, development of a conceptual apparatus, etc. - is abstract thinking.
However, in everyday life, abstract logical thinking plays an important role. Due to it, a person is able not only to establish connections between events, to generalize and distribute experience, but also to build a general picture of the world.
Diagnosis and development of the ability to think abstractly
To determine the severity of abstract thinking, it is enough to pass a special test, which are quite diverse:
- Test for . A positive result is the predominance of abstract-logical thinking. Such tests are created in the form of questionnaires in which you need to choose the statement that is closest to you, or be based on pictures, i.e. working with images.
- Tests to identify cause-and-effect relationships. The essence of the tasks of such tests is as follows: the initial conditions are given, from which it is necessary to draw a logically correct conclusion. Often, such tests are used as the terminology of non-existent words in order to reveal the level of detachment of a person and his ability to abstract from specific details.
- Tests based on the analysis of the proposed combinations of words. In this case, it is necessary to identify the pattern due to which various words are combined, and extend it to other phrases.
Training of logic and the ability to think abstractly
Due to the fact that abstract thinking is an acquired quality, it should be developed. The most optimal time to start such training is an early age. This is due to the fact that children have an increased level of susceptibility to new information and a more mind is more flexible. With age, these properties are somewhat lost, because. a person has already adopted certain patterns of behavior and worldview. However, even an adult, with sufficient perseverance, can develop his abstract-logical skills and use them effectively in everyday and working life.
By choosing several tests to pass, you can easily determine which types of exercises will be most effective: if the training is difficult, then you should start with similar ones.
Choosing light types of exercises does not make sense, because. thinking will stay the same.
The best option for starting classes for both children and adults are tasks for quick wit and ingenuity. Usually they are presented in the form of obvious facts, but with the wrong solution. The subject, solving the problem, must identify implicit relationships between the initial data and formulate the correct answer.
In addition, questions and tasks from any test can be used as exercises.
The ability to generalize and systematize knowledge gives us powerful tool to knowledge of the world. Unlike animals and primitive people, we have a unique resource that we can use for a broader and deeper understanding of reality: the laws of the Universe, social ties and, ultimately, ourselves.
Definition 1
Thinking is a cognitive action that occurs due to the rational and indirect study of the surrounding world.
The concept of abstract-logical thinking
All the laws of the functioning of society and the natural environment are known through human perception, sensations, its sensual side and memory. In addition, this is possible due to thought processes.
Thinking has several varieties. Its most common type, which is activated on last step Personal development is abstract - logical thinking.
Definition 2
Abstract logical thinking is a kind of mental action implemented through logical operations with theoretical concepts.
Such thinking characterizes the general connections and interactions that develop between objects, processes and phenomena occurring in the surrounding space.
Forms of abstract logical thinking
There are three main forms of abstract-logical thinking:
- A concept is a form that characterizes an object as the owner of a single attribute or a group of them, which are the most priority and reflect its essence. For example, words and phrases can be distinguished as abstract concepts: a fish, a green-eyed girl, a store clerk, a teacher.
- A judgment is a form that characterizes an object by negating it and confirming its existence, using a specific phrase for this. An example would be such judgments: a girl eats soup - a simple judgment, the child left, the house was empty - a declarative sentence.
- Inference is a form that deals with the construction of a new judgment, concretization, conclusions based on one judgment or their complex. Abstract-logical thinking is based on it.
Specific characteristics of abstract logical thinking
The essence of this thought process is reflected due to the specific features of its manifestation. These include:
- Skills of possession and practical use of parameters and values that do not exist in reality;
- Analytic skills. The presence of abstract-logical thinking implies the ability to analyze information, generalize and systematize data;
- Lack of direct communication and cooperation with environment to build a certain system of conclusions, the principles of its organization and patterns of development;
- The ability to determine and make cause-and-effect relationships between various phenomena, objects and processes.
To answer the question of whether you have developed abstract thinking, pay attention to the presence of criteria for its development:
- spending huge time resources on thinking about the meaning of life, the nature of consciousness;
- frequent surprise and asking the question “why?”. It can also be noted that in childhood there was an enormous curiosity and need for knowledge;
- performance of any activity not just like that, but for a serious reason. Doing things “just like that” is completely irrelevant;
- there is no reliance on instructions, the desire to figure everything out on their own without help and support;
- the need to engage in new areas of activity, avoidance of routine, the constant need for new activities, a change of activity;
- comparing new ideas with previously acquired knowledge, even if they are not related;
- characteristic is the successful inventing of metaphors and analogies, the construction of an ideological relationship with new options and techniques.
Applying Abstract Thinking
Abstract thinking begins to develop only at the age of five or seven. Initially, children are guided by the visual perception of the environment, using visual-effective thinking. Somewhere from a year and a half, the use of a concrete-subject type of thinking begins.
Each type of thinking is present in human life during its entire implementation. These types are necessary for building simple and complex spatial relationships.
The learning process is an activity during which the activation of thinking takes place, and therefore it is of a conscious nature. In this regard, learning is based on abstract-logical thinking. It applies not only to learning process, but also to other areas of activity, including domestic. Its advantage lies in the ability to determine the causes of various events and to determine the relationships and interdependencies between them.
Recognition of the degree of development of abstract thinking
To determine how developed a person's abstract thinking is, various diagnostic systems are used. Common are test tasks. All tests are divided into three main groups:
- Tests that reveal the type of thinking of a person. Their essence consists in choosing from several proposed options a suitable statement or a picture that reflects the essence of a process.
- Tests aimed at determining cause-and-effect relationships. These techniques are based on the formulation of the correct conclusion under the specific conditions of the functioning of the process or object.
- Tests based on the analysis of words and phrases. It is necessary to determine the cause-and-effect relationships of constructing this combination, the principles of such a grouping of words.
Abstract thinking is inherent in every person. However, it needs development. Without proper training, it will not function properly. It is necessary to train abstract thinking from a very early age, when the child is best able to absorb information. In this period, his thinking is more sensual and receptive, not influenced by social stereotypes.
The development of thinking takes place in two main stages:
- Determination of the level of development of thinking at a given time moment and the choice of appropriate tasks for ingenuity.
- Conducting various tests, performing individual tasks from them.
Exercises for the development of abstract thinking
Abstract thinking is best developed in childhood. This increases its effectiveness, since all mental and thought processes are under development.
In childhood, the development of abstract thinking can be realized in the form of a game, building various structures from available materials. Also, associative selections to various words and processes will help the development of abstraction.
Remark 1
Chess games, puzzles, rebuses, puzzles will help the development of abstract thinking in a child.
Despite the fact that in adulthood thinking has already been formed, it is quite possible to develop and improve it.
By doing the following exercises, you can significantly increase the ability to think abstractly:
- Representation of various emotions in the mind and their binding to specific objects and processes.
- Representation of a model of some philosophical concept. An example is: harmony, energy, infinity.
- Reading in reverse order or upside down. So you can build logical connections between objects and processes.
- A mental representation of people or events of the current day, building their detailed image and evaluating their feelings.
- Drawing anything activates the abstractness of thinking.
When a person does not know something, he turns on abstract thinking, which helps him make guesses, make judgments, and reason. To understand what it is, you need to familiarize yourself with examples, forms and methods of its development.
What is Abstract Thinking?
What is it and why does the psychotherapeutic help site psymedcare.ru touch on the topic of abstract thinking? It is the ability to think in general that helps in finding a solution to an impasse, in the emergence of a different view of the world.
There is precise and generalized thinking. Accurate thinking is activated when a person has knowledge, information and a clear understanding of what is happening. Generalized thinking turns on when a person does not know the exact data, does not have specific information. He can guess, assume, draw general conclusions. Generalized thinking is abstract thinking in simple words.
The scientific language of abstract thinking is the view cognitive activity when a person moves away from specific details and begins to reason in general. The picture is considered as a whole, without affecting the details, specifics, accuracy. This contributes to the departure from the rules and dogmas and consideration of the situation from different angles. When an event is considered in general, then there are various ways to solve it.
Usually a person proceeds from specific knowledge. For example, a man lies on the couch and watches TV. The thought arises: "He's a slacker." In this situation, the viewer proceeds from his own ideas about what is happening. What could actually be happening? The man lay down for 5 minutes to rest. He had already done everything around the house, so he allowed himself to watch TV. He got sick, so he lies on the couch. There can be many variations of what is happening here. If you ignore the specifics and look at the situation from different angles, then you can find out a lot of new and interesting things.
In abstract thinking, a person thinks approximately. There are no specifics or details here. Generalized words are used: “life”, “world”, “in general”, “by and large”.
Abstract thinking is useful in situations where a person cannot find a way out (intellectual impasse). Due to the lack of information or knowledge, he is forced to reason, guess. If we abstract from the situation with its specific details, then we can consider in it what was not noticed before.
Abstract logical thinking
In abstract-logical thinking, abstractions are used - units of certain patterns that have been isolated from the "abstract", "imaginary" qualities of an object, phenomenon. In other words, a person operates with phenomena that he cannot “touch with his hands”, “see with his eyes”, “smell”.
A very striking example of such thinking is mathematics, which explains phenomena that are not in physical nature. For example, there is no such thing as the number "2". The person understands that we are talking about two identical units. However, this figure was invented by people in order to simplify some phenomena.
The progress and development of mankind has forced people to use concepts that in fact do not exist. Another striking example would be the language a person uses. There are no letters, words, sentences in nature. Man invented the alphabet, words and expressions to simplify the expression of his thoughts, which he wants to convey to other people. This allowed people to find mutual language, since everyone understands the meaning of the same word, recognize letters, build sentences.
Abstract-logical thinking becomes necessary in a situation where there is some certainty that is not yet understood and known to a person, and when an intellectual impasse arises. There is a need to identify what is in reality, to find a definition for it.
Abstraction is divided into types and purposes. Types of abstraction:
- Primitive-sensual - highlighting some properties of an object, ignoring its other qualities. For example, considering the structure, but ignoring the form of the subject.
- Generalizing - highlighting a common characteristic in one phenomenon, ignoring the presence of individual features.
- Idealizing - replacing real properties with an ideal scheme that eliminates existing shortcomings.
- Isolating - highlights the component on which attention is focused.
- Actual infinity – infinite sets are defined as finite.
- Constructivization - "coarseness", giving form to phenomena that have vague boundaries.
According to the goals of abstraction there are:
- Formal ( theoretical thinking), when a person considers objects according to their external manifestations. These qualities themselves do not exist on their own without these objects and phenomena.
- Content, when a person can single out a property from an object or phenomenon that can exist on its own, be autonomous.
The development of abstract-logical thinking is important, since it was it that made it possible to isolate from the surrounding world that which cannot be recognized by the natural senses. Here concepts (language expressions) were formed that convey general pattern one phenomenon or another. Now each person does not have to identify this or that concept, since he learns about it in the process of learning at school, university, at home, etc. This brings us to the next topic about forms of abstract thinking.
Forms of abstract thinking
Since a person cannot “create a wheel” every time, he must systematize the knowledge gained. Many phenomena are not visible to the human eye, something does not exist at all, but all this is in human life, therefore it must have one form or another. In abstract thinking, there are 3 forms:
This is the thought that conveys common property, which can be traced in different subjects. They may be different. However, their homogeneity and similarity allows a person to combine them into one group. So, for example, a chair. It can be with round handles or square seats. Different chairs have a different color, shape, composition. However, they common feature is that they have 4 legs and it is customary to sit on them. The same purpose of objects and their design allows a person to be combined into one group.
People teach these concepts to children from childhood. Speaking of "dog", we mean an animal that runs on 4 legs, barks, barks, etc. Dogs themselves come in different breeds. However, they all have the same characteristics, according to which they are combined into one common concept - "dog".
People use this form of abstraction when they want to confirm or refute something. Moreover, this verbal form is unambiguous. It comes in two forms: simple and complex. Simple - for example, a cat meows. It is short and clear. The second - "the garbage was thrown out, the bucket was empty." It is often expressed in whole sentences of narrative form.
The judgment may be true or false. True Judgment reflects the real state of affairs and is often based on the fact that a person does not show any relation to him, that is, he judges objectively. A judgment becomes false when a person is interested in it and is based on his own conclusions, and not on the real picture of what is happening.
This is a thought that is formed on the basis of two or more judgments, from which a new judgment is formed. In every conclusion there are 3 components: premise (premise), conclusion and conclusion. The premise (premise) is the initial judgments. Inference is the process of logical thinking that leads to a conclusion - a new judgment.
Examples of Abstract Thinking
Having considered the theoretical part of abstract thinking, you should familiarize yourself with various examples. The most striking example of what an abstract judgment is is the exact sciences. Mathematics, physics, astronomy and other sciences are often based on abstract thinking. We do not see numbers as such, but we can count. We collect objects in a group and call their number.
The man talks about life. But what is it? This is the existence of a body in which a person moves, breathes, functions. It is impossible to give a clear definition of what life is. However, a person can unambiguously determine when someone lives and when they die.
Clearly abstract thinking manifests itself when a person thinks about the future. It is not known what will happen there, but everyone has goals, desires, plans. Without the ability to dream and imagine, a person would not be able to plan for the future. Now he seeks to realize these goals. His movement through life becomes more purposeful. Strategies and tactics are emerging that should lead to the desired future. This reality does not yet exist, but a person strives to form it the way he wants to see it.
Another common form of abstraction is idealization. People like to idealize others and the world in general. Women dream of princes from fairy tales, not noticing what men are in the real world. Men dream of obedient wives, ignoring the fact that only an unthinking being can be subordinate to another.
Many people use judgment. Often they are false. Thus, a woman may conclude that "all men are bad" after being betrayed by a single partner. Since she singles out a man as a single class, which is characterized by the same quality, she ascribes to everyone the quality that manifested itself in one person.
Often, wrong conclusions are made on the basis of false judgments. For example, “the neighbors are unfriendly”, “heating is not supplied”, “the wiring needs to be changed” means “the apartment is dysfunctional”. Based on the emotional discomfort that occurs under the circumstances, unambiguous judgments and conclusions are made that distort reality.
Development of abstract thinking
The most optimal age for the development of abstract thinking is the preschool period. As soon as the child begins to explore the world, he can be helped in the development of all kinds of thinking.
by the most effective way development are toys. Through shapes, volumes, colors, etc., the child first begins to recognize the details, and then combine them into groups. You can give the child several toys of a square or round shape, so that he divides them into two piles according to the same characteristics.
As soon as a child learns to draw, sculpt, make with his own hands, he should be allowed to engage in such hobbies. This develops not only fine motor skills, but also contributes to the manifestation of creativity. We can say that abstract thinking is creativity that is not limited by frames, shapes, colors.
When a child learns to read, count, write and perceive words by sound, you can work with him to develop abstract-logical thinking. Riddles that should be solved are well suited here, puzzles where it is necessary to solve some question, exercises for ingenuity, where it is necessary to notice an error, an inaccuracy.
Since abstract thinking is not born with a person, but develops as he grows, various rebuses, crosswords, and puzzles will help here. There is a lot of literature on how to develop different types thinking. It should be understood that some puzzles cannot develop only one type of thinking. All of them are partially or completely engaged in the development various kinds cognitive activity.
Particularly effective are various life situations in which the child must find a way out of the situation. A simple task to take out the garbage will force the child to first think about how to dress and what to wear in order to leave the house and carry the garbage bag to the bin. If the garbage can is far from home, then it will be forced to predict its route in advance. Forecasting the future is another way to develop abstract thinking. Children have a good imagination, which should not be oppressed.
The result of abstract thinking is that a person is able to find solutions in any situation. He thinks creatively, flexibly, outside the box. Not always accurate knowledge is objective and able to help in any situation. Circumstances happen different, which makes a person think, reason, predict.
Psychologists note the negative consequences if parents do not engage in the development of this thinking in their child. Firstly, the baby will not learn to distinguish the general from the details and, conversely, move from the general to the details. Secondly, he will not be able to show flexibility of thinking in situations in which he does not know a way out. Thirdly, he will be deprived of the ability to predict the future of his actions.
Abstract thinking differs from linear thinking in that a person does not think in terms of cause and effect. He abstracts from the details and begins to reason in general. The most remarkable thing here is that only after a general vision of affairs can a person move on to the details that are important in a situation. And when the details do not help in solving the problem, then there is a need to abstract, to go beyond what is happening.
Abstract thinking allows you to find something new, to create, to create. If a person were deprived of such thinking, then he would not be able to create a wheel, a car, an airplane and other technologies that many people use now. There would be no progress that arises first from the ability of a person to imagine, dream, go beyond the accepted and reasonable. These skills are also useful in everyday life, when a person is faced with different characters and behaviors of people whom he has never met before. The ability to quickly rebuild and adapt to unchanging circumstances is due to abstract thinking.
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Abstract thinking
Abstract thinking is a type of thinking that allows you to abstract from small details and look at the situation as a whole. This type of thinking allows you to step beyond the boundaries of norms and rules and make new discoveries. The development of abstract thinking in a person from childhood should occupy an important place, because this approach makes it easier to find unexpected solutions and new ways out of the situation.
Basic forms of abstract thinking
The peculiarity of abstract thinking is that it has three different forms- concepts, judgments and conclusions. Without understanding their specifics, it is difficult to sink into the concept of "abstract thinking".
The concept is a form of thinking in which an object or group of objects is reflected as one or more features. Each of these signs must be significant! The concept can be expressed both in one word and in a phrase - for example, the concepts of "cat", "leaves", "student of a humanitarian university", "green-eyed girl".
Judgment is a form of thinking that denies or affirms any phrase that describes the world, objects, relationships and patterns. In turn, judgments are divided into two types - complex and simple. A simple proposition may sound like, for example, "the cat eats sour cream." A complex proposition expresses the meaning in a slightly different form: "The bus started moving, the stop was empty." A complex proposition usually takes the form of a declarative sentence.
Inference is a form of thinking in which, from one or a group of related propositions, a conclusion is drawn, which is a new proposition. This is the basis of abstract-logical thinking. Judgments that precede the formation of the final version are called prerequisites, and the final judgment is called the "conclusion". For example: “All birds fly. Sparrow flies. Sparrow is a bird.
The abstract type of thinking involves the free operation of concepts, judgments and conclusions - such categories that do not make sense without correlation with our everyday life.
How to develop abstract thinking?
Needless to say, the ability for abstract thinking is different for everyone? Some people are given to draw beautifully, others to write poetry, and others to think abstractly. However, the formation of abstract thinking is possible, and for this it is necessary to early childhood give your brain something to think about.
There are currently many printed publications, which give food for thought - all kinds of collections of puzzles for logic, puzzles and the like. If you want to engage in the development of abstract thinking in yourself or your child, it is enough to find just a minute twice a week to immerse yourself in solving such tasks. The effect will not keep you waiting. It is noticed that in early age the brain is easier to solve this kind of problems, but the more training it gets, the better the results.
The complete absence of abstract thinking can give rise not only to many problems with creative views activities, but also with the study of those disciplines in which the majority key concepts- abstract. That is why it is important to pay much attention to this topic.
Properly developed abstract thinking allows you to know what has not yet been known by anyone before, to discover various secrets of nature, to distinguish truth from lies. In addition, this method of cognition differs from others in that it does not require direct contact with the object under study and allows you to remotely draw important conclusions and conclusions.
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What is abstract thinking and how does it manifest itself?
1. Definition 2. Forms 3. Types of thinking 4. Features 5. Are people equally developed abstraction? 6. Methods for the development of abstract thinking 7. Abstract thinking and children
Each person in his Everyday life enjoys nearby thought processes one of these is abstract thinking.
Abstract thinking is unique to man. No animal has this ability.
Definition
Abstract thinking is a type of thinking in which a person abstracts from details and thinks in broad terms, sees the big picture. This feature of the brain allows you to go beyond the ordinary, to go towards your goal regardless of the opinions of other people, to make new discoveries. AT modern world many employers value such abilities of their employees very much, this provides non-standard problem solving, new original projects. Developing abstract thinking in a child is an important task for his parents, since in many ways this is the key to his success in the future.
Forms
In order to understand the essence of thinking, it is worth understanding what forms it has. Forms of thought processes:
A concept is the ability to characterize an object or phenomenon in one or more words according to its most important features. Example: gray cat, branchy tree, dark-haired girl, small child.
Judgment is a special form of thinking that describes objects and processes in the surrounding world, their relationship and interaction. It can affirm or deny any information. Judgment, in turn, is divided into simple and complex.
An example of a simple proposition: "the grass grows." A complex proposition: “The sun is shining outside the window, therefore, the weather is good,” it has a narrative character.
Inference is a form of thinking, thanks to which, based on several judgments, a person draws a conclusion, which, in fact, will be a generalized judgment. A conclusion is made up of premises and a conclusion. Example: spring has come, it has become warmer outside, the grass has begun to grow.
Abstract thinking allows not only to freely operate with these three concepts, but also to apply them in life. Often in everyday activities we use all three forms of abstract thinking without noticing it.
Types of thinking
In psychology, there are several types of thinking. This separation is a reflection of a person's ability to combine word, action and thought or image. Psychologists categorize them as follows:
- Specifically effective or practical.
- Concrete-figurative or artistic
- Verbal-logical or abstract.
It is especially worth mentioning the verbal-logical type, since it is he who accompanies all the significant achievements of mankind.
Peculiarities
As has been repeatedly said, it is this type of thinking that underlies the empirical cognitive function. Psychologists are constantly trying to improve and concretize the processes that occur in our minds. It is customary to divide several directions in abstract thinking, based on the tasks that a person is trying to solve:
- Idealizing.
- Generalizing.
- Primitively sensual.
- Insulating.
- actual infinity.
- Constructivization.
The idealizing form involves the replacement of real concepts by ideals. This greatly complicates the analysis of the surrounding world, since it is very difficult to find an ideal or apply an ideal solution to real circumstances. Human representations are absolutely ideal. Example: "perfectly white snow".
Generalizing type is the main weapon of mathematicians. It is characterized by the perception of the object of thought in general, depriving it of details and specifics, and therefore, making it a little divorced from reality.
The primitive-sensory type consists in abstracting from some properties of phenomena and objects, while their other properties come to the fore. This type is the main one in any human activity, since it is responsible for the perception of the surrounding world.
The isolating type consists in concentrating on one, the most significant detail for a person, while he does not pay due attention to the rest of the subject.
Constructivization is a distraction from general characteristics object or circumstance.
Also, abstract thinking is divided into:
Are people equally developed abstraction?
The answer is unequivocal - no. Each of us is endowed with abilities, and they are all different, which is why humanity is so diverse in its views, interests, aspirations. For example, someone writes poetry, and another composes prose, some cannot imagine themselves without music, while others prefer to draw in silence. Such diversity allows the society to develop, to make discoveries in all spheres of life. To live in a world where everyone thinks the same, would that be interesting? However, abstract thinking can and should be developed.
In patients with oligophrenia, mental retardation, and some other behavioral deviations, psychiatrists note poorly developed abstract thinking or its complete absence.
Development Methods
The development of abstract thinking is a long and laborious process. But everything is not as scary as it might seem at first glance. In order to develop this type of thinking, a person only needs to devote an hour or an hour and a half to solving logical problems and puzzles two or three times a week. This is a very exciting process, and you will not have time to look back, how it will become your favorite hobby! In the modern world, there are enough printed publications for the development of logic, as well as exercises and assignments can be found on the Internet. This means that finding such information is not difficult. For example, there is a popular site that presents puzzles of varying complexity.
This kind of thinking originates in the East from the time ancient world. It originated as a branch of logic. Logic itself is the ability to think and reason, to draw conclusions about things and their essence. Abstract thinking allows you to build theoretical schemes.
With regular practice, the results will not be long in coming. Within a few weeks, you will notice that it has become easier to think, make long-term plans, and solve issues that previously caused difficulty.
The little man is an open book in which you can write whatever you want! Children are more receptive to learning and developing any abilities. A child's abilities need to be developed through play. The modern toy industry offers a rich selection of games for early development. For example, it can be small puzzles, mosaics, a banal pyramid. At an older age, in order to teach a child to think, invite him to look at pictures in books, explain his understanding of what is happening on them.
Teaching a child to think abstractly is very important. Abstract thinking is not only a guarantee of its creative development, but it is also the ability to question everything, to achieve everything empirically. Developed thinking helps to collect, analyze information and draw independent conclusions, and then back them up with proven facts.
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Abstract thinking - the ability to know the essence
The world surrounding a person is full of concrete things that can be seen, heard, touched. Nevertheless, there is a lot in our life that neither the eyes, nor the ears, nor other sense organs are able to determine. For example, how to represent infinity, or how to measure the power of love, or what will happen if modern man suddenly move to the distant past? There are answers to these questions, but they are ambiguous, because each person has his own idea of \u200b\u200bwhat you can’t see with your eyes, you can’t hear with your ears and you can’t touch with your hands. This feature is given to him thanks to abstract thinking, which is also called abstract-logical.
Abstract-logical thinking is the privilege of exclusively people. Animals do not have the ability to draw conclusions, analyze, compare and reflect. They act on instinct. Unlike them, a person can not only study the world around him, but also, on the basis of his experience, represent its components in images and symbols, and even predict the future, considering an alternative course of events. By the way, to understand what abstract thinking is, its skills are just the same.
What are the forms of abstract thinking
Depending on what questions a person is able to answer about the world around him, three forms of abstract thinking are distinguished:
- concept - allows a person to answer the question: “What is this?”, And in one or two words. Here, for example, a woman is standing at a bus stop, and next to her is a tall woman, and a little further away is also a woman, also tall, but extremely beautiful;
- Judgment is the ability of a person to understand “what is happening or will happen?”. For example, when a bus pulls up, the women at the bus stop are likely to get on public transport;
- inference - will allow you to draw a conclusion on the topic: "Why did this happen this way?". Suppose a bus drove up to the women standing at the bus stop, but only one entered it. Why are the other two left? Apparently, this route does not suit them.
Thus, abstract-logical thinking enables a person to go beyond the visible and tangible boundaries of the surrounding world and immerse himself in the world that he creates in his mind.
It should be understood that abstract thinking in psychology is the interaction of connections between the causes of phenomena and their consequences based on personal conclusions. It has nothing to do with what constitutes the area of isolated emotions and feelings. Intuition also refers to the concept, which is not a form of abstract thinking.
The possibilities of abstract thinking
Thanks to the ability of a person to see more than the surrounding reality offers, he receives unique opportunities as a gift:
- evaluate objects or phenomena by comparing them with each other;
- analyze what is happening, decomposing the event into components or combining its disparate parts into a whole;
- abstract from specific circumstances, separating signs from the subject;
- generalize or concretize objects or phenomena, finding correspondences between the particular and the general;
- systematize and classify knowledge, extracting what is necessary and pushing aside what is superfluous for a given moment in time.
All these abilities are inherent in every person, but in varying degrees. However, it is in the power of man to improve these abilities. That is why the question: “How to develop abstract thinking?” relevant at any age, although the sooner an answer is found to it, the better.
How to develop abstract thinking?
The development of abstract thinking must begin from early childhood. How less man years, so, according to scientists, it will be easier for him to learn a new science for himself. The main thing is to do it gradually and according to age. Parents can take on board a lot of simple tricks:
- play associations - for example, fantasize what the objects around you look like;
- compose fairy tales with your child, the heroes of which can be everything that you have at hand - a comb, a refrigerator, a zucchini grown in a garden;
- draw each other's drawings or ask your child to continue one given sketch in different options- what is behind the zigzag across the entire page or what spiral circles can mean;
- invent life stories for people you accidentally see - whether they are just passers-by on the street or strangers from glossy magazines;
- create chains of associations - for example, what words can correspond to the word "rest" or what the word "delicious" implies;
- solve logical puzzles together - remember, in childhood, we all tried to transport a wolf, a goat and cabbage to the shore in one boat?
There are many ways to develop abstract thinking. It is enough to deal with a child for only half an hour a day, and after some time he will amaze you with the logicalness of judgments and the ability to draw conclusions.
What is abstraction, abstract thinking
Thinking is one of the most interesting and at the same time complex cognitive processes our psyche. It is thinking that allows us to learn, explore the world around us, compare, draw conclusions, build judgments and come to conclusions, and, of course, create, create something fundamentally new based on past experience.
Each of us is endowed with this ability, which allows us to successfully interact with each other. It must be understood that our thinking has a certain classification and peculiar stages of development. The highest form of development of thinking is abstract-logical.
This type of thinking is based on the concepts of "abstraction", "abstract"; and it is precisely the meaning of the word "abstraction" or "abstract" that makes it possible to better understand the nature of this type thinking. So, abstraction is a concentration of attention on important, essential aspects of an object or phenomenon. As a result of abstraction, abstraction arises, i.e. some generalization that results from this abstraction.
Forms
It is necessary to consider not only general provisions but also abstract thinking and its forms. After all, it manifests itself in quite a variety of ways.
So, psychologists distinguish the following forms of abstract thinking:
1. Concepts are the simplest and most basic form of mental activity, since other, more complex ones are based on it. This form combines many phenomena or objects with similar features into one concept. For example, the concept of "chair" is furniture that is used for sitting, it has a seating surface, a back, often legs (one or four), designed for one person.
2. Judgment is a more complex form, which does not consist of one concept, but of several, and with the help of judgment we are able to state the fact of something, and we can also describe objects and phenomena or their relationship. Distinguish between simple and complex sentences:
- Simple is a short phrase, such as "It's raining" or "The plane is flying."
- Complex is a chain short phrases, which gives a more detailed understanding of what is happening, for example, "It's cold outside, it's snowing and the wind is blowing."
3. Inference - the most complex form, which is the union of several judgments, on the basis of which we can draw a conclusion, and therefore create a new judgment. For example: “It’s cold outside and the wind is blowing, so you need to dress warmly.” It is a mental process that allows the development of theoretical knowledge.
Our life consists of constantly operating with both concepts and judgments that lead us to new conclusions. Each of us goes from visual-figurative thinking to an abstract and logical kind of thinking.
There are also the main features of the abstract type of thinking:
- The ability to operate with abstract concepts (happiness, law, life, truth).
- Ability to summarize and analyze information.
- The ability to create a system based on the information received.
- Revealing the patterns of the world around you without actually interacting with it (for example, to understand that it is cold outside by looking at the weather forecast on the Internet).
- Ability to establish causal relationships.
Development
The main question that interests almost everyone is the development of abstract thinking, how it happens and whether it can be influenced. So, according to experts, this type of mental activity develops in the younger school age, starting from the age of 7, so it can be developed already in the first grades.
Contributes to its development, of course, the game, it is through the game that the child is able to learn the basic concepts, learn to operate with them, and also build conclusions based on judgments. It is also important to involve the child in solving various problems, especially logical ones or those where there are abstract concepts, such as "perimeter" or "area".
Creative activity also helps develop the ability to think abstractly. These can be drawing, modeling, reading poetry or prose, designing, and so on - the choice of the type of creativity should directly depend on the child's abilities.
If we talk about the development of an abstract and logical type of thinking in adults, then they are also recommended to engage in creativity, delve into the understanding of what art is, turn to philosophical concepts and categories. It’s good to give yourself the opportunity to solve puzzles from time to time, to try a non-standard approach to solving everyday problems.
All this allows you to take a fresh look at the world around, and, consequently, expand the functions and possibilities of your thinking. It must be remembered and understood that the ability to think abstractly in different people is not developed equally, so you should not compare your results with someone else's - it's better to follow how you were able to develop abstract thinking in yourself and how it changes.
And the most important advice
) - mental distraction, isolation from certain aspects, properties or relationships of objects or phenomena to highlight essential features.
The word "Abstraction" is used in two senses:
- Abstraction process, same as abstraction»
- Abstraction - « abstract concept», « abstract”, the result of abstraction.
An abstract concept is a mental construct that is a concept or idea that can personify certain objects or phenomena. real world, but at the same time abstracted from their specific incarnations. Abstract constructions may not have direct analogues in the physical world, which is typical, for example, for mathematics (in general, probably the most abstract science).
The need for abstraction is determined by the situation when the differences between the nature of the intellectual problem and the being of the object in its concreteness become apparent. In such a situation, a person uses, for example, the possibility of perceiving and describing a mountain as a geometric shape, and a moving person as a certain set of mechanical levers.
Some types of abstraction, by types of non-essential:
- general abstraction- gives a generalized picture of the phenomenon, abstracted from particular deviations. As a result of such abstraction, a common property of the objects or phenomena under study is singled out. This type of abstraction is considered the main one in mathematics and mathematical logic.
- idealization- replacement of a real empirical phenomenon with an idealized scheme, abstracted from real shortcomings. As a result, the concepts of idealized (ideal) objects are formed (“ideal gas”, “absolutely black body”, “straight line”, “spherical horse in a vacuum” (from a joke about idealization), etc.)
- isolating abstraction- isolation of the phenomenon under study from a certain integrity, distraction from options that are not of interest.
- abstraction of actual infinity- a distraction from the fundamental impossibility to fix each element of an infinite set, that is, infinite sets are considered as finite.
- constructivization- distraction from the uncertainty of the boundaries of real objects, their "roughening".
By goals:
- formal abstraction- isolation of properties important for theoretical analysis;
- meaningful abstraction- isolation of properties of practical importance.
The concept of "abstract" is opposed to the concrete (concrete thinking - abstract thinking).
See the epistemological law "Ascent from the abstract to the concrete".
Abstract thinking implies operating with abstractions (“man in general”, “number three”, “tree”, etc.), which can be considered a more developed level of mental activity compared to concrete thinking, which always deals with specific objects and processes ( "brother Vasya", "three bananas", "oak in the yard", etc.). The ability to think abstractly is one of the distinguishing features a person who, apparently, was formed simultaneously with language skills and largely thanks to language (for example, it would be impossible even to mentally operate with the number “three in general” without having a specific language sign for it - “three”, since in the world around us such an abstract, unattached concept simply does not exist: it is always “three people”, “three trees”, “three bananas”, etc.).
- In software engineering, abstraction refers to an algorithm and method of simplifying and separating details to focus on some concepts at the same time.
see also
- Abstraction layer (abstraction level) in programming
See what "Abstract Thinking" is in other dictionaries:
abstract thinking- 3.2 abstract thinking: Thinking, which is the ability of the operator to form general concepts, breaking away from reality in perceptions, to reflect (to be in a state of reflection). Source … Dictionary-reference book of terms of normative and technical documentation
Abstract thinking Dictionary-reference book on educational psychology
Abstract thinking- thinking, operating with complex abstract concepts and conclusions, which makes it possible to mentally isolate and turn individual aspects, properties or states of an object, phenomenon into an independent object of consideration. Such a distinct and... ... Dictionary of Educational Psychology
Abstract thinking- the same as conceptual thinking, i.e. the ability of a person to form abstract, indirect, not visual, purely mental ideas about objects, in which the main properties of specific things are generalized ... Beginnings of modern natural science
ABSTRACT THINKING- See abstraction; thinking... Dictionary in psychology
abstract thinking- Relying on language, the highest, actually human type of thinking, carried out in the form of concepts, judgments, conclusions ... Dictionary linguistic terms T.V. Foal
Abstract thinking operator- Abstract thinking: thinking, which is the ability of the operator to form general concepts, breaking away from reality in perceptions, to reflect (to be in a state of reflection) ... Source: GOST R 43.0.3 2009. National standard ... ... Official terminology
Directed process of information processing in the cognitive system of living beings. M. is realized in acts of manipulation (operating) with internal mental representations that obey a certain strategy and lead to the emergence of ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
Abstraction, or abstract, (from Latin abstractio "distraction", introduced by Boethius as a translation of the Greek term used by Aristotle) mental distraction, isolation from certain aspects, properties or connections of objects or phenomena for ... ... Wikipedia
thinking- I thought/nee \u003d we/thinking; see think 1) A person's ability to think, reason, draw conclusions; a special step in the process of reflection by consciousness of objective reality. Scientific thinking. The brain is the organ of thought. Develop thinking... Dictionary of many expressions
Books
- How emotions affect abstract thinking and why mathematics is incredibly precise. How the cerebral cortex is arranged, why its capabilities are limited and how emotions, complementing the work of the cortex, allow a person to make scientific discoveries, A. G. Sverdlik. Mathematics, unlike other disciplines, is universal and extremely accurate. It creates the logical structure of all natural sciences. "The incomprehensible efficiency of mathematics", as in its time...
- How emotions affect abstract thinking and why mathematics is incredibly accurate How the cerebral cortex is arranged, why its capabilities are limited, and how emotions, complementing the work of the cortex, allow a person to make scientific discoveries, Sverdlik A. Mathematics, unlike other disciplines, is universal and extremely accurate. It creates the logical structure of all natural sciences. "The incomprehensible efficiency of mathematics", as in its time...
How the dispute about different abilities began, for mathematics, logic, analysis and others difficult things, met one of the most difficult terms in our conversation - abstract thinking. They don’t compare it with anything, they don’t explain it with anything, they don’t apply it to anything. And with what just do not confuse.
Do you know and understand what abstract thinking is? Why is it so many confused with logic, memory and other interesting things? I somehow understand intellectually what it is, but I also have difficulties with wording. Wiki tells us: "Abstract thinking is one of the types of human thinking, which consists in the formation of abstract concepts and operating with them." So how is it? Did this wording make it easier? :-)
And further: "Abstract concepts ("number", "matter", "value", etc.) arise in the process of thinking as a generalization of the data of sensory cognition of specific objects and phenomena of objective reality."
Well, yes, it's better.
My friend answered this question for me simple example: "A child who does not have abstract thinking understands ten apples, but does not understand ten apples."
This in itself is understandable, but I don’t really fit in with what is written above (copied from Wiktionary).
Just on the way to the school of vision, I was reading a livejournal discussion about who thinks well about what. So I decided to ask a neurologist. He sits there, in this school, and likes to answer tricky questions. I thought he was a great candidate for this question because he uses the term himself a lot. The neurologist said that we need abstract thinking in order to deal with phenomena about which we do not receive enough information to "disassemble" them with the mind. Everything that is unsteady, vague and incomprehensible for us is packed into some acceptable images by abstract thinking. And it also comes into force when we try to express our feelings and emotions. This is also a very flimsy and vague part of reality, which is difficult to understand, systematize, describe, discuss. And want. This is where our ability to think abstractly selects images and descriptions of what cannot be expressed and said in words.
This is perhaps the description I liked the most that I have heard and read so far. But the question remained with mathematics, logic and analysis. Is it true that abstract thinking helps to understand mathematics? And if so, why?
My neurologist said that - no, understanding - does not help. It helps to understand the presentation of information (clear, simple, straightforward), and the right amount of information. If a person does not understand something in an example, then he does not have enough information, knowledge to help solve this example. If he knows everything necessary to solve the problem, he comes with his knowledge and solves it.
But where abstract thinking helps is to deal with emotional dead ends. Because each person has such a phase when he already has knowledge, but he has not yet figured out how to apply it. It is a lack of experience, a lack of determination, a lack of skill in combining and applying everything to everything. And in order not to fall into a stupor at the first failure, to relax, take a breath, and think about what is wrong here, what can be done about it - the ability to sort out one's feelings helps. Understand and recognize your emotional condition, influence him, relax, accept the situation. Start thinking about it - partly breaking away from the exact example and the desire to immediately get the correct figure.
By the way, the habit of drawing in the mind what you don’t actually see or hear is also considered the fruit of abstract thinking. And this is very useful.
Now doctors give great importance this ability. I already wrote about how I go through recent times vision tests. First, vision is measured by objective methods. Diopters and so on can be measured with a machine, and everything that I see is crooked, oblique and uneven is the result of physical distortions and changes. Having made a scan of the retina, everything that is refracted in the eye can be projected through it, and the doctor will see the world through my eyes, in all its curvature. At the same time, when I have to read the letters, sitting in the required number of meters from the table, I guess much more than I should. And something in my head made me see the curved lines become straighter over time. And - most importantly - it counts! Everything twisted by any god knows what methods, including what you see with your ears, nose, intuition and some kind of sixth sense - is considered! I recognized what I saw - it means I recognized it!
They even have a favorite phrase there, which they repeat all the time: "Bestanden ist bestanden" - ("Who passed the exam, he passed"). Type - "no matter how."
:-)
Or maybe in the sciences somehow it is possible? Something not to understand with the mind, but to feel some other place? :-)
See also: