To think, to think, to know, to create - nature has laid this amazing ability in each of us. From the moment of birth, the human brain begins to read information from the outside world, this is how a complex and multifaceted process of thinking starts. What is thinking? Its types and their characteristics will be considered 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, philosophers tried to reveal the secrets of human consciousness and study this invisible, imperceptible matter. Many treatises, books, scientific papers and articles have been written on this topic. The mental abilities of a person have been studied and are still being studied by various scientific disciplines, but remain completely unknown. Of course, we, too, will not be able to perform a miracle and reveal as such a phenomenon of the human mind. But let's look at this concept from the standpoint of psychological science and try to understand the many types of thinking and their characteristics.

There are many definitions of thinking in psychology. Discussions about 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 unique to man, it is a mental process that allows us to learn about the world around us. The brain reads information from the outside, analyzes it, draws certain conclusions, and on their basis a person performs 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 complicated. The information accumulated over time makes it possible to divide and generalize, invent and reason, design and produce, create and create, create an infinite number of variations and combinations of what is happening in the world. But at the basis of all these actions is the ability given to man by nature to think. And in psychology there is such a thing as a typology of thinking, in which it is divided into types and types, classified into different groups according to certain characteristics.

Classification

A separate subject of study in psychology is the classification and characteristics of the types of thinking. There are many visual tables that are full of 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 single out several main groups, to which researchers pay special attention. Main types of thinking:

This group includes:

• visual and effective;
• visual-figurative;
• subject-effective;
• abstract logical thinking.

By the nature of the tasks to be solved

Thinking can be:

• theoretical;
• practical.

According to the degree of reflection

There are such varieties:

• analytical;
• intuitive;
• realistic;
• autistic;
• egocentric.

By degree of novelty

May be:

• productive;
• reproductive, sometimes referred to as introverted.

According to the degree of arbitrariness

There are such types:

• arbitrary;
• involuntary.

According to personal characteristics

Varieties:

• male;
• feminine;
• positive;
• negative;
• strategic;
• idealistic;
• irrational;
• rational;
• analytical;
• right hemisphere and left hemisphere;
• synthetic.

Scientists distinguish many more types of thinking depending on the results of a person’s activity, 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, distinguished by psychologists, is classified by content. This group includes visual-effective, figurative, objective-effective and abstract-logical thinking.

• Visual Action Thinking. The individual, 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 and do something like an adult, explores the world by touching objects and various experiments with them. He literally tries the world with his teeth, gnaws them, knocks them against each other, sometimes breaks them. Thus, by observing, by making certain manipulations with things, a small person studies the world and draws his first conclusions from the impressions received. In the adult state, visual-effective consciousness is characteristic of workers in the production sector.
• Visual-figurative thinking. It is visually based. It begins to develop in children from the middle of preschool age, 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 representation 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-concrete 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, eventually creates his individual generalized and abstract opinion about objects, phenomena, situations, independent of other members of society.
• Object-Effective Thinking characteristic of people who have built and continue to build the entire objective world around us for centuries. They come up with ideas and turn them into reality.

These types of mind, like steps, gradually lay out the path of a person’s development from the cradle to his full development as a person.

By the nature of the tasks

Separately, psychologists describe the types of mental abilities based on the nature of the goals set and the tasks performed.

• theoretical thinking. The current laws, rules, norms, theories, concepts, teachings - all this and much more is the product of a theoretical thought process that allows you to analyze the accumulated knowledge and ideas, compare them, classify and form new ones.
• empirical thinking is a kind 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 is relatively simple here: the fruits of the theory are used in practice, tested in action. All kinds of projects, plans, schemes, goals transform theoretical concepts into real practical reality. As a result of this type of thinking, an incorporeal thought takes on a tangible form through action.

According to the 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 able to divide 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 analytical abilities. The process of such work goes on for a long time and consistently.
• intuitive thinking to some extent it is the antipode of the analytical, as it passes quickly and unconsciously. There is neither logic, nor analysis, nor at least some reasonable explanation of what conclusions a person's consciousness makes at the moment of triggering intuition.
• realistic thinking. No evidence - no belief in anything. A realistic perception of reality gives a person the opportunity to think sensibly, soberly, adequately and logically. In the course of 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 quite correct and feasible, even if they run counter to logic. There is no critical assessment of reality in this type of perception. People of this mindset are often found in the artistic direction of activity and in art.
• egocentric thinking developed in children and adults with high self-esteem, excessive self-confidence, bordering on pathological narcissism. In children, this is quite normal, as they think that the world around them revolves only around them. The child's ego is in the center of the universe, and everything that happens is perceived only from the position of the reflector "I".

In egocentric adults, such an understanding of the world and oneself is already considered a psychological problem or an incorrigible character trait.

By degree of novelty

According to the degree of novelty and originality, a separate place is given to the creative (productive) and reproductive image of consciousness.

• Productive Thinking defines a person as a creator. Here the main role is played by human fantasy, 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 is the opposite of productive. This type of knowledge is based solely on ready-made solutions, images, sources and templates already available in the world. The complete absence of creative imagination and the focus only on the reproduction of previously acquired knowledge characterizes this type of mind. It is worth noting that people with a reproductive type of comprehension often have traits of an introverted character.

According to the degree of arbitrariness

Allocate a group of types of thinking according to the degree of arbitrariness.

Here everything is explained quite simply.

• Arbitrary thinking man is controlled by consciousness and will, the thought process is completely under his control.
• involuntary thinking, on the contrary, exists by itself, does not obey the efforts of the will of man. Everyone is familiar with the expressions “do it automatically”, “involuntarily do it”, “do it without realizing it”, and so this is the situation when involuntary thinking performs its functions. Involuntary consciousness is associated with the affective components of a person's attitude to objects and phenomena, various situations and problems, that is, with feelings and emotional reactions to objects of 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 knowledge and perception of the world.

• Male thinking. It is generally accepted that men think logically and straightforwardly, perfectly operate iconic models and systems, as a rule, this process is always aimed at action and results. Men clearly distinguish between reason and emotions. In their opinion, feelings are extremely negatively reflected in the transformation of thoughts into a business result. According to one version, this happens because the left hemisphere type of perception and information processing prevails in the brain of men. The left hemisphere is responsible for speech, logic, analysis, operations with numbers, sequences, etc. In women, while working with information, the right hemisphere of the brain dominates. Right hemispheric cognition endows women with imagination, daydreaming, emotionality, excellent spatial orientation.
• Women's thinking is similar to intuitive thinking. Emotions for the fair sex are always in the first place, so often many conclusions and conclusions are based on feelings and premonitions. Sometimes the mood controls a woman, and the course of her thoughts can change along with changes in mood. This is only a description of a trend that appears frequently, but psychologists do not claim that women do not have either logic or rationality. On the contrary, in certain situations, women show no less than men's ability to analyze, generalize, plan and miscalculate the situation.
• positive thinking. This is about optimism. People with such traits of mind are inclined, despite obstacles, to see opportunities to achieve their goals. Such individuals always manage to soberly, realistically, and most importantly, constructively, assess the situation and tune in to success.
• negative thinking characteristic of pessimists. They are constantly dissatisfied with life, constantly complain about it, see insurmountable obstacles everywhere and in everything, thereby causing pity and sympathy for others.
• strategic thinking. If you tend to create far-reaching plans and at the same time give clear forecasts, then you are a strategist. People who have a strategic vision of the world are capable of strictly adhering to the goal, effectively assessing the path to achieve it and never turning away from it - as a rule, these are successful businessmen and leaders.
• Idealistic thinking. An idealized view of the world is inherent in idealists. Creating an ideal version of the world in their imagination, they project it onto reality. As a rule, a mismatch occurs, and a person is greatly 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. Often it is characteristic of schizoid disorders.
• rational thinking. Arguments, facts, knowledge, skills, logic, reason - these are the foundations on which a person with a rational intellect relies. Emotions, feelings, experiences for such individuals do not matter. They always think sensibly and soberly, clearly and quickly solve the assigned tasks and find a constructive approach to everything.
• Analytical thinking. A person-analyst studies everything that happens around him slowly, thinking everything over in detail, thoroughly, always establishing the causes of 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. Separate 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 absolutely do not frighten him.

Unconscious thinking

A separate concept in psychology is the concept of unconscious thinking. 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 on its own. It collects and stores absolutely all information read from the outside throughout a person's life. You can compare this process with picking up the details of the designer, only this happens automatically, regardless of our desire and concentration of attention.

Information collected in the subconscious is used when it is needed.. The result of the work of the unconscious mind is these are unconscious decisions made by a person. We think that we are acting one way or another because we have long and hard searched for a logical solution in this or that situation, but we are not even aware of the influence of the unconscious on this decision. Like the far side of the moon, the unconscious mind is the most unexplored and most mysterious area of ​​the human mind.

It can be stated with certainty that it begins to develop intensively in preschool children, prevails in younger schoolchildren, and especially dominates in first graders.

Ways to determine the type of thinking

In psychology, there are several ways to determine the type of thinking, individual style. The most commonly used method for this purpose is. Tests are developed by experienced psychologists on the basis of long-term 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, the largest researcher of cognitive processes, Jerome Bruner.

There is also the “Type of Thinking” technique, developed by psychologist Galina Rezalkina, in which it is proposed to answer “yes” or “no” to a number of questions. After that, points are calculated according to the proposed scales - it becomes clear what type a person has.

The information received by a person from the surrounding world allows a person to represent not only the external, but also the internal side of an object, to represent objects in the absence of themselves, to foresee their change in time, to rush with thought into boundless distances and the microcosm. All this is possible through the process of thinking. In under thinking understand the process of cognitive activity of an individual, characterized by a generalized and indirect reflection of reality. Objects and phenomena of reality have such properties and relationships that can be known directly, with the help of sensations and perceptions (colors, sounds, shapes, placement and movement of bodies in visible space).

The first feature of thinking- its mediated nature. What a person cannot cognize directly, directly, he cognizes indirectly, indirectly: some properties through others, the unknown through the known. Thinking is always based on the data of sensory experience - representations - and on previously acquired theoretical knowledge. Indirect knowledge is also indirect knowledge.

The second feature of thinking- its generalization. Generalization as knowledge of the general and essential in the objects of reality is possible because all the properties of these objects are connected with each other. The general exists and manifests itself only in the individual, in the concrete.

People express generalizations through speech, language. Verbal designation refers not only to a single object, but also to a whole group of similar objects. Generalization is also inherent in images (representations and even perceptions). But there it is always limited visibility. The word allows you to generalize without limit. Philosophical concepts of matter, motion, law, essence, phenomenon, quality, quantity, etc. - the broadest generalizations expressed in a word.

The results of people's cognitive activity are recorded in the form of concepts. A concept is a reflection of the essential features of an object. The concept of an object arises on the basis of many judgments and conclusions about it. The concept as a result of the generalization of people's experience is the highest product of the brain, the highest stage of cognition of the world.

Human thinking proceeds in the form of judgments and conclusions.. Judgment is a form of thinking that reflects the objects of reality in their connections and relationships. Each judgment is a separate thought about something. A consistent logical connection of several judgments, necessary in order to solve any mental problem, to understand something, to find an answer to a question, is called reasoning. Reasoning has practical meaning only when it leads to a certain conclusion, a conclusion. The conclusion will be the answer to the question, the result of the search for thought.

inference- this is a conclusion from several judgments, giving us new knowledge about the objects and phenomena of the objective world. Inferences are inductive, deductive and by analogy.

Thinking is the highest level of human cognition of reality. Sensual basis of thinking are sensations, perceptions and representations. Through the sense organs - these are the only channels of communication between the body and the outside world - information enters the brain. The content of information is processed by the brain. The most complex (logical) form of information processing is the activity of thinking. Solving the mental tasks that life puts before a person, he reflects, draws conclusions and thereby cognizes the essence of things and phenomena, discovers the laws of their connection, and then transforms the world on this basis.

Thinking is not only closely connected with sensations and perceptions, but it is formed on the basis of them. The transition from sensation to thought is a complex process, which consists, first of all, in the selection and isolation of an object or its attribute, in abstraction from the concrete, individual and the establishment of the essential, common to many objects.

Thinking acts mainly as a solution to problems, questions, problems that are constantly put forward before people by life. Solving problems should always give a person something new, new knowledge. The search for solutions is sometimes very difficult, so mental activity, as a rule, is an active activity that requires focused attention and patience. The real process of thought is always a process not only cognitive, but also emotional-volitional.

For human thinking, the relationship is not with sensory cognition, but with speech and language. In a stricter sense speech- the process of communication mediated by language. If language is an objective, historically established system of codes and the subject of a special science - linguistics, then speech is a psychological process of formulating and transmitting thoughts by means of language.

Modern psychology does not believe that inner speech has the same structure and the same functions as extended outer speech. By internal speech, psychology means an essential transitional stage between the idea and expanded external speech. A mechanism that allows you to recode the general meaning into a speech statement, i.e. inner speech is, first of all, not an extended speech statement, but only preparatory stage.

However, the inseparable connection between thinking and speech does not at all mean that thinking can be reduced to speech. Thinking and speaking are not the same thing. Thinking does not mean talking about yourself. Evidence of this is the possibility of expressing the same thought in different words, as well as the fact that we do not always find the right words to express our thought.

The objective material form of thinking is language. A thought becomes a thought both for oneself and for others only through the word—oral and written. Thanks to the language, people's thoughts are not lost, but are transmitted in the form of a system of knowledge from generation to generation. However, there are additional means of transmitting the results of thinking: light and sound signals, electrical impulses, gestures, etc. Modern science and technology widely use conventional signs as a universal and economical means of transmitting information.

Thinking is also inextricably linked with the practical activities of people. Any type of activity involves thinking, taking into account the conditions of action, planning, observation. By acting, a person solves any problems. Practical activity is the main condition for the emergence and development of thinking, as well as a criterion for the truth of thinking.

thought processes

The mental activity of a person is a solution to various mental problems aimed at revealing the essence of something. A mental operation is one of the ways of mental activity through which a person solves mental problems.

Thinking operations are varied. These are analysis and synthesis, comparison, abstraction, concretization, generalization, classification. Which of the logical operations a person will use will depend on the task and on the nature of the information that he subjects to mental processing.

Analysis and synthesis

Analysis- this is a mental decomposition of the whole into parts or a mental separation from the whole of its sides, actions, relations.

Synthesis- the reverse process of thought to analysis, it is the unification of parts, properties, actions, relations into one whole.

Analysis and synthesis are two interrelated logical operations. Synthesis, like analysis, can be both practical and mental.

Analysis and synthesis were formed in the practical activity of man. People constantly interact with objects and phenomena. Practical development of them led to the formation of mental operations of analysis and synthesis.

Comparison

Comparison- this is the establishment of similarities and differences between objects and phenomena.

The comparison is based on analysis. Before comparing objects, it is necessary to select one or more of their features, according to which the comparison will be made.

The comparison can be one-sided, or incomplete, and multi-sided, or more complete. Comparison, like analysis and synthesis, can be of different levels - superficial and deeper. In this case, a person's thought goes from external signs of similarity and difference to internal ones, from the visible to the hidden, from the phenomenon to the essence.

abstraction

abstraction- this is a process of mental abstraction from some signs, aspects of the concrete in order to better know it.

A person mentally highlights some feature of an object and considers it in isolation from all other features, temporarily distracted from them. An isolated study of individual features of an object, while simultaneously abstracting from all the others, helps a person to better understand the essence of things and phenomena. Thanks to abstraction, a person was able to break away from the individual, concrete and rise to the highest level of knowledge - scientific theoretical thinking.

Specification

Specification- a process that is the opposite of abstraction and is inextricably linked with it.

Concretization is the return of thought from the general and abstract to the concrete in order to reveal the content.

Thinking activity is always aimed at obtaining some result. A person analyzes objects, compares them, abstracts individual properties in order to reveal what is common in them, in order to reveal the patterns that govern their development, in order to master them.

Generalization, therefore, is the selection in objects and phenomena of the general, which is expressed in the form of a concept, law, rule, formula, etc.

Types of thinking

Depending on what place the word, image and action occupy in the thought process, how they relate to each other, distinguish three types of thinking: concrete-effective, or practical, concrete-figurative and abstract. These types of thinking are also distinguished on the basis of the characteristics of tasks - practical and theoretical.

Actionable Thinking

Visual and effective- a type of thinking based on the direct perception of objects.

Specifically effective, or objectively effective, thinking is aimed at solving specific problems in the conditions of production, constructive, organizational and other practical activities of people. Practical thinking is, first of all, technical, constructive thinking. It consists in the understanding of technology and in the ability of a person to independently solve technical problems. The process of technical activity is the process of interaction between mental and practical components of work. Complex operations of abstract thinking are intertwined with the practical actions of a person, inextricably linked with them. Characteristic features concrete-effective thinking are bright strong observation, attention to detail, particulars and the ability to use them in a particular situation, operating with spatial images and schemes, the ability to quickly move from thinking to action and vice versa. It is in this kind of thinking that the unity of thought and will is manifested to the greatest extent.

Concrete-figurative thinking

Visual-figurative- a type of thinking characterized by reliance on ideas and images.

Concrete-figurative (visual-figurative), or artistic, thinking is characterized by the fact that a person embodies abstract thoughts, generalizations into concrete images.

Abstract thinking

Verbal-logical- a kind of thinking carried out with the help of logical operations with concepts.

Abstract, or verbal-logical, thinking is mainly aimed at finding common patterns in nature and human society. Abstract, theoretical thinking reflects general connections and relationships. It operates mainly with concepts, broad categories, and images, representations play an auxiliary role in it.

All three types of thinking are closely related to each other. Many people have equally developed concrete-active, concrete-figurative and theoretical thinking, but depending on the nature of the tasks that a person solves, then one, then another, then a third type of thinking comes to the fore.

Types and types of thinking

Practical-active, visual-figurative and theoretical-abstract - these are the interconnected types of thinking. In the process of the historical development of mankind, the human intellect was initially formed in the course of practical activity. So, people learned to measure land plots by experience, and then on this basis a special theoretical science gradually arose - geometry.

Genetically, the earliest kind of thinking is action-oriented thinking; actions with objects are of decisive importance in it (in its infancy it is also observed in animals).

On the basis of practical-effective, manipulative thinking arises visual-figurative thinking. It is characterized by operating with visual images in the mind.

The highest level of thinking is abstract, abstract thinking. However, here, too, thinking retains a connection with practice. As they say, there is nothing more practical than a correct theory.

The thinking of individuals is also divided into practical-effective, figurative and abstract (theoretical).

But in the process of life, one and the same person comes to the fore either one or another type of thinking. So, everyday affairs require practical-effective thinking, and a report on a scientific topic requires theoretical thinking, etc.

Structural unit of practical-effective (operational) thinking - action; artistic - image; scientific thinking concept.

Depending on the depth of generalization, empirical and theoretical thinking are distinguished.

empirical thinking(from the Greek. empeiria - experience) gives primary generalizations based on experience. These generalizations are made at a low level of abstraction. Empirical knowledge is the lowest, elementary level of knowledge. Empirical thinking should not be confused with practical thinking.

As noted by the well-known psychologist V. M. Teplov (“The Mind of a Commander”), many psychologists take the work of a scientist, a theorist, as the only model of mental activity. Meanwhile, practical activity requires no less intellectual effort.

The mental activity of the theoretician is concentrated mainly on the first part of the path of cognition - a temporary retreat, a retreat from practice. The mental activity of the practitioner is mainly concentrated on the second part of it - on the transition from abstract thinking to practice, that is, on that "hit" in practice, for the sake of which the theoretical digression is made.

A feature of practical thinking is subtle observation, the ability to focus attention on individual details of an event, the ability to use to solve a particular problem that special and singular that was not completely included in theoretical generalization, the ability to quickly move from thinking to action.

In the practical thinking of a person, the optimal ratio of his mind and will, the cognitive, regulatory and energy capabilities of the individual is essential. Practical thinking is associated with the operational setting of priority goals, the development of flexible plans, programs, great self-control in stressful conditions of activity.

Theoretical thinking reveals universal relations, explores the object of knowledge in the system of its necessary connections. Its result is the construction of conceptual models, the creation of theories, the generalization of experience, the disclosure of the patterns of development of various phenomena, the knowledge of which ensures the transformative activity of man. Theoretical thinking is inextricably linked with practice, but in its final results it has relative independence; it is based on previous knowledge and, in turn, serves as the basis for subsequent knowledge.

Algorithmic, discursive, heuristic and creative thinking are distinguished depending on the standard/non-standard nature of the tasks being solved and operational procedures.

Algorithmic thinking is focused on pre-established rules, the generally accepted sequence of actions necessary to solve typical problems.

discursive(from lat. discursus - reasoning) thinking based on a system of interconnected inferences.

heuristic thinking(from the Greek heuresko - I find) - this is productive thinking, consisting in solving non-standard tasks.

Creative thinking- thinking that leads to new discoveries, fundamentally new results.

There are also reproductive and productive thinking.

reproductive thinking- reproduction of previously obtained results. In this case, thinking merges with memory.

Productive Thinking- thinking that leads to new cognitive results.

Coming from the outside world. Thinking is carried out in the course of the flow of thoughts, images, various sensations. A person, receiving any information, is able to imagine both the external and internal side of a particular object, predict its change in time, and present this object in its absence. What is a mindset? Are there any methods for determining the types of thinking? How to use them? In this article we will consider the main types of thinking, their classification and features.

General characteristics of thinking

Studying information about the types and types of thinking, one can come to the conclusion that there is no single characteristic for their definition. The opinions of scientists and psychologists are somewhat similar, somewhat different. The classification of the main types of thinking is a rather arbitrary thing, since the most characteristic types and types of human thinking are supplemented by their derivative, individual forms. But before proceeding to the consideration of various types, I would like to find out how the process of mental activity itself proceeds. Thinking can be divided into some mental operations, as a result of which a concept is formed.

• First of all, through analysis, a person mentally breaks the whole into its component parts. This is due to the desire for a deeper knowledge of the whole by studying each of its parts.
• As a result of synthesis, a person mentally combines individual parts into a single whole, or groups individual features, properties of an object or phenomenon.
• In the process of comparison, many types and types of thinking are able to distinguish between common and different in objects or phenomena.
• The next operation of the thinking process is abstraction. This is a simultaneous mental distraction from non-existent properties when highlighting the essential features of an object.
• The generalization operation is responsible for systematizing the properties of an object or phenomenon, bringing together general concepts.
• Concretization is the transition from general concepts to a single, specific case.

All these operations can be combined in various variations, resulting in the formation of a concept - the basic unit of thinking.

Practical (visual-effective) thinking

Psychologists divide the types of human thinking into three groups. Consider the first type - visual-effective thinking, as a result of which a person is able to cope with the task as a result of a mental transformation of the situation based on previous experience. From the name itself, it comes from the fact that initially the process of observation takes place, the method of trial and error, then, based on this, theoretical activity is formed. This type of thinking is well illustrated by the following example. At first, a person learned in practice to measure his land plot with the help of improvised means. And only then, on the basis of the knowledge gained, geometry was gradually formed as a separate discipline. Here practice and theory are inextricably linked.

Figurative (visual-figurative) thinking

Along with conceptual thinking, there is figurative, or visual-figurative thinking. It can be called thinking by representation. The figurative type of thinking is most clearly observed in preschoolers. To solve a certain problem, a person no longer uses concepts or inferences, but images that are stored in memory or recreated by the imagination. This type of thinking can also be observed in people who, by the nature of their activities, are called upon to make decisions based only on observation of an object or visual images of objects (plan, drawing, diagram). The visual-figurative type of thinking provides the possibility of mental representation, selection of various combinations of objects and their properties.

Abstract logical thinking

This type of thinking does not operate on individual details, but concentrates on thinking as a whole. By developing this type of thinking from an early age, in the future you will not have to worry about problems with solving important problems. Abstract-logical thinking has three forms, consider them:

• A concept is a combination of one or more homogeneous objects with the help of essential features. This form of thinking begins to be developed in young children, introducing them to the meaning of objects, giving them definitions.
• Judgment can be simple or complex. This is a statement or denial of a phenomenon or relationship of objects. A simple sentence takes the form of a short phrase, while a complex one can take the form of a declarative sentence. “The dog is barking”, “Mom loves Masha”, “Wet water” - this is how we teach kids to reason when they get to know the outside world.
• An inference is a logical conclusion following from several judgments. Initial judgments are defined as premises, and final ones as conclusions.

Everyone is able to independently develop a logical type of thinking, for this there are a lot of puzzles, rebuses, crossword puzzles, logical tasks. Properly developed abstract-logical thinking in the future makes it possible to solve many problems that do not allow you to have close contact with the subject being studied.

Types of economic thinking

The economy is that branch of human life that everyone faces. Every day, learning something from everyday practice, a person forms his own guidelines that relate to economic activity. This is how economic thinking is gradually formed.

The ordinary type of thinking is subjective. Individual economic knowledge is not so profound and is not able to prevent slips and mistakes. Ordinary economic thinking is based on one-sided and fragmentary knowledge in this industry. As a result, it is possible to perceive a part of an event as a single whole or a random phenomenon - as permanent and unchanging.

Opposite the ordinary is scientific economic thinking. The person who owns it knows the ways of rational and scientifically based economic activity. The reasoning of such a person does not depend on anyone's opinion, she is able to determine the objective truth of the situation. Scientific economic thinking covers the entire surface of events, reflecting the economy in a comprehensive integrity.

Philosophical thinking

The subject of philosophy is the spiritual experience of a person, both psychological and social, as well as aesthetic, moral and religious. Both the worldview itself and the types of philosophical thinking originate in a productive doubt about the correctness of everyday opinions. Consider the main features of this type of thinking:

• Conceptual validity is the sequence of solving worldview issues according to the established order.
• Consistency and systematicity implies the construction by a philosopher of a theoretical system that provides answers to many worldview questions.
• The universality of theories lies in the following: a philosopher rarely gives answers to questions that concern a particular person, his theories only indicate the right path for finding these answers.
• Openness to criticism. Philosophical judgments lend themselves to constructive criticism and are open to revision of the main provisions.

Rational type of thinking

What kind of perception and processing of information operates with competence and knowledge, skill and habit and does not take into account such operations as feeling and presentiment, impulse and desire, impression and experience? Yes, rational thinking. This is a cognitive process that is based on a reasonable and logical perception of an object or situation. A person during his life does not always have to think about something, sometimes he manages with feelings and habits, brought to automatism. But when he "turns on his head", he tries to think rationally. Such a person can only be attracted by facts based on reality, and only realizing the importance of the final result, he will begin to act.

Irrational thinking

Irrational thinking is not subject to logic and control over their actions. Irrationalists are active individuals. They take on many cases, but illogicality is visible in their actions. Their thoughts and judgments are not based on real facts, but on the expected result. Irrational thinking can be based on distorted conclusions, on underestimation or exaggeration of the significance of any events, personalization or overgeneralization of the result, when a person, having failed once, makes an appropriate conclusion for life.

Synthesizing type of thinking

With the help of this type of thinking, a person creates a complete picture based on various fragments and pieces of information. Encyclopedic people, librarians, office workers, scientists, enthusiastic programmers - they are all representatives of synthesizing thinking. From them it is impossible to wait for an interest in extreme sports and travel, their usual field of activity is a constant working routine.

Analyst people

Observers, people who are able to get to the root of an event, those who like to think about the life path, having only a few facts in their arsenal, detectives and investigators are typical representatives of the analytical type of thinking.

This is a kind of scientific type of thinking, the strength of which is logic. This type of perception of information can be compared with rational, but it is more long-term. If a rationalist, solving one problem, quickly moves on to solving the next one, then the analyst will dig for a long time, evaluate the development of events, ponder what could be the root cause.

idealistic mindset

The most common types of human thinking include idealistic thinking. It is typical for people with somewhat excessive demands on others. They subconsciously try to find previously created ideal images in others, they tend to harbor illusions, which leads to disappointment.

Idealists can operate with social and subjective factors as accurately as possible in their decisions; they try to avoid conflict situations, considering them an unnecessary waste of time. In their opinion, all people can agree among themselves. To do this, it is important for them to correctly determine the ultimate goal. Their standards may seem too high, but the quality of the work of such people is really high, and their behavior is exemplary.

People Why? and people "Why?"

Another characteristic of the types of thinking was proposed by Stephen Covey. He owns the idea that different types of thinking can be divided into only two types. Later, his theory was supported by Jack Canfield, who deals with human motivation. So what is this theory? Let's figure it out.

People of the first type live with thoughts about their own future. All actions of people are aimed not at the realization of their desires, but at reflections on tomorrow. At the same time, they do not think about whether this “tomorrow” will come at all. The result of this is a lot of missed opportunities, an inability to make fundamental changes, and dreams of a cloudless future often do not come true.

Why people live in the past. Past experience, past victories and achievements. At the same time, they often do not notice what is happening at the moment, they may not think about the future at all. They look for the causes of many problems in the past, and not in themselves.

Methodology "Type of thinking"

To date, psychologists have developed many methods by which you can determine your own type of thinking. The respondent is invited to answer questions, after which his answers are processed, and the dominant type of perception and information processing is determined.

Determining the type of thinking can help in choosing a profession, tell a lot about a person (his inclinations, lifestyle, success in mastering a new type of activity, interests, and much more). After reading the test question, it is worth answering in the affirmative if you agree with the judgment, and in the negative if not.

The "Type of Thinking" method showed that there are rarely people whose type of thinking is defined in its pure form, most often these are combined.

It is worth noting that there are many different exercises that allow you to train and develop certain types of thinking. So, types of creative thinking can be developed with the help of drawing, logical, as mentioned earlier, with the help of crosswords and puzzles.

Thinking- socially determined, inextricably linked with speech, the mental process of searching for and discovering something new, i.e. the process of generalized and indirect reflection of reality in the course of analysis and synthesis.

Thinking as a special mental process has a number of specific characteristics and features.

The first such sign is generalized a reflection of reality, since thinking is a reflection of the general in objects and phenomena of the 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 lies in the fact 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 of 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 process of thinking begins to manifest itself most clearly only when a problem situation arises that needs to be solved. Thinking always starts with question, the answer to which is purpose thinking

An exceptionally important feature of thinking is the inextricable connection with speech. The close connection between thinking and speech finds its expression primarily in the fact that thoughts are always clothed in speech form. We always think in words, that is, we cannot think without uttering the word.

Types of thinking.

There are the following types of thinking:

- Visual-effective - here the solution of the problem is carried out with the help of a real transformation of the situation on the basis of a motor act. Those. the task is given visually in a specific form and the way to solve it is a practical action. This type of thinking is typical for a child of preschool age. This kind of thinking also exists in higher animals.

Visual-figurative - a situation necessary for solving a problem, a person recreates in a figurative form. Begins to form at the senior preschool age. In this case, in order to think, the child does not have to manipulate the object, but it is necessary to 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 assimilation of various sciences. At the end of school education, 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 kinds of thinking. For example, in an engineer, designer, visual-effective thinking achieves greater perfection (or when mastering new technology). In addition, all types of thinking are closely interconnected.

From the point of view of the originality of the tasks 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 the general, essential and distinctive features of objects and phenomena of reality (for example, the concept of "man"). Distinguish concepts worldly(acquired in practical experience) and scientific(acquired during training). 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 features.

inference- such a connection between thoughts (concepts, judgments), as a result of which we obtain another judgment from one or several judgments, 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, the allocation of individual features in it. Analysis is practical and intellectual.

Synthesis- mental connection of individual elements, parts and features into a single whole. But synthesis is not a mechanical combination of parts.

Analysis and synthesis are inextricably linked and provide a 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 process of thinking, we know most things, because. we cognize an object only by equating it with something or distinguishing it from something.

As a result of comparison in the compared objects, we highlight something in common. That. Thus, on the basis of comparison, a generalization is built.

Generalization - mental association of objects into groups according to those common features that stand out in the process of comparison. 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 under study, a person is distracted from the rest. Concepts (length, breadth, quantity, equality, value, etc.) are created by abstracting.

Specification involves the return of thought from the general and abstract to the specific in order to reveal the content (give an example for the rule).

Thinking as a process of problem solving.

The need for thinking arises first of all when, in the course of life, a new problem appears before a person. Those. thinking is necessary in those 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 . In a problem situation, the process of thinking begins. In the course of activity, a person encounters something unknown, thinking is immediately included in the activity, and the problem situation turns into a task that is realized by the person.

Task - the goal of an activity given in certain conditions and requiring the use of means adequate to these conditions for its achievement. Any task includes: target, condition(known) desired(unknown). Depending on the nature of the ultimate goal, tasks are distinguished practical(aimed at transforming material objects) and theoretical(aimed at cognition of reality, for example, study).

The 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 unambiguous. Problem solving is carried out only with the help of thinking. But thinking is manifested not only in solving problems, but also, for example, for the assimilation of knowledge, understanding of the text, setting the task, i.e. for knowledge (mastery of experience).

Individual features of thinking.

The thinking of each person has some differences in certain properties.

Independence- the ability of a person to put forward new tasks and find the right solutions without resorting to the frequent help of other people.

Latitude- this is when a person's cognitive activity covers various areas (broad-minded).

Flexibility- the ability to change the solution plan planned at the beginning, if it no longer satisfies.

Rapidity- the ability of a person to quickly understand a difficult situation, quickly think 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 Newton's head to see a problem in a falling apple).

criticality- the ability to objectively evaluate one's own and other people's thoughts (not to consider one's thoughts absolutely correct).

Thinking as the highest form of cognitive activity allows a person to logically connect events and phenomena, as well as to generalize the results of personal sensory experience and reflect the general properties of objects. On the basis of generalizations, we then solve specific cognitive tasks. Thinking helps us to give answers to questions that cannot be resolved by sensory reflection alone. It helps us navigate the world around us and apply in a constantly changing environment the generalizations and experience we have received before.

Classification of types of thinking

Developing in the process of socialization, the way of thinking of a person gradually changed, moving from the concrete to the abstract, from the external (objective) to the internal. Most often, thinking is divided into practical and theoretical. Practical thinking, in turn, is visual-effective and visual-figurative, while theoretical thinking is figurative and abstract-logical (conceptual). The main types of thinking can be depicted, according to this classification, in this way:

From visual-effective, - the main type of thinking of a child up to 3 years old (we try everything by touch, “by the tooth”), growing up (by 4-7 years old), through visual images and representations (auditory, tactile, visual, etc. ) we master visual-figurative thinking.

Theoretical and practical thinking are different in the type of problems they solve, and in the features (structural and dynamic) resulting from this. Theoretical thinking is considered to be at a higher level of development than practical, and conceptual (verbal-logical) is one level higher than figurative. Interestingly, even in the process of carrying out any particular activity, all these types of thinking can peacefully coexist, but one of them always dominates, based on the ultimate goals and nature of this activity. In this regard, we can talk about the prevailing type of thinking at the moment. All types of human thinking are equivalent in terms of the level of complexity, as well as in terms of the requirements for human abilities, and, first of all, for intellectual abilities.

Let's take a closer look at each type of thinking process:

practical thinking

The purpose of this type of thinking process is the preparation of a specific physical transformation of reality: for example, the creation of a plan, project, scheme. In other words, it is aimed at solving specific practical problems. Usually practical thinking is limited by time constraints.

Visual Action Thinking manifests itself in practical activities, in the course of which we transform real objects. With this prevailing type of thinking, a person directly perceives an object or, in the process of any action with it, changes, transforms the situation. Who uses visual-action thinking the most? These are, as we have already said, kids under three years old and adults involved in the creation of some kind of material product (for example, in production).

Visual-figurative thinking differs in that the thought process in this case occurs directly in the process of perception of the surrounding world, and only in this way. With this type of thinking, a person imagines the situation and the changes that he wants to achieve in the end result. Visual-figurative thinking is characterized by the use of unusual, incredible combinations of objects and their properties. With this type of thinking process, a person uses images presented in his operational and short-term memory (and does not retrieve them from long-term memory with subsequent transformation, as happens when using theoretical figurative thinking).

Who uses visual-figurative thinking most often? First of all, these are children: preschoolers and younger schoolchildren, and among adults - those who are engaged in practical activities, if they observe the subject of their activity without touching it. When renovating an apartment and presenting the final result, based on the selected wallpaper options, the color of the ceiling and floor, we also use this kind of thinking.

theoretical thinking

The goal of theoretical thinking is the knowledge and generalization of rules and laws, both scientific and their everyday ones. In most cases, theoretical thinking is aimed at searching and finding some general patterns.

Verbal-logical (conceptual) thinking differs in that in the process of solving a problem a person uses concepts, performs mental operations (actions in the mind), without using the experience received from the senses. Concepts, judgments and inferences act as a tool in this case. This kind of thinking gives an abstract, but accurate and generalized reflection of reality. Who most often uses verbal-logical thinking? These are people of science who carry out theoretical research.

Theoretical figurative thinking gives the possibility of no less real reflection of reality, the verbal-logical. In this type of human thinking, the tools for solving the problem are images that are either retrieved from memory or generated by the imagination, that is, they are recreated creatively. Who most often use theoretical figurative thinking? Creative people working with images, engaged in art and literature.

Both types of theoretical thinking complement each other, coexist, revealing, though different, but interconnected facets of being.

There is a more detailed classification of types of thinking:

By shape the types already considered above are distinguished: visual-effective, visual-figurative, figurative and abstract-logical thinking.

By the nature of the tasks to be solved- also considered above practical and theoretical thinking.

According to the degree of expansion - discursive And intuitive thinking.

discursive(expanded) thinking is different in that a person hears, sees and feels his inner actions, his inner speech. It relies on the logic of reasoning, and not on perception, has clearly defined stages and is deployed in time.

When folded ( intuitive) thinking is based on sensory perception and reflection of objects and phenomena of the surrounding world. It is brief, has practically no stages, almost unconsciously.

According to the degree of originality, novelty the result of mental operations are distinguished productive And reproductive thinking.

Productive Thinking based on creative imagination. It is aimed at understanding what is happening, setting goals, finding solutions and obtaining useful conclusions and experience.

reproductive thinking is based on the use of already existing representations and images.

There is also a classification of types of thinking depending on on the degree of standardization of the tasks being solved. In this regard, they share:

• Algorithmic thinking. It is based on ready-made algorithms and rules, on the execution of a certain sequence, and is used to solve typical problems.
• Discursive thinking relies on reasoning based on interrelated inferences.
• heuristic thinking is to find solutions to non-standard problems.
• Creative thinking is a search for discoveries, a path to completely new results.

Some psychologists, classifying the types of thinking, divide it into three types: verbal-logical, visual-effective and visual-figurative, and inside verbal-logical thinking performing logical operations with concepts, there are a number of types of thinking:

• theoretical, in which laws and rules are comprehended, hypotheses and concepts are built.
• Practical, allowing for a limited time to test hypotheses, draw up practical plans and prepare to change the existing reality. He is characterized by subtle observation, the ability to find and use important details and quickly apply the solution in practice.
• Analytical (logical)- Conscious thinking with a clear structure.
• realistic thinking based on the laws of logic and directed at the surrounding world.
• autistic thinking is inextricably linked with the inner world of a person, the realization of his desires.
• Productive- creating something new.
• reproductive- reproducing on the basis of what has already been created, according to the model.
• involuntary- this thinking in this classification is considered as a transformation of images of dreams.
• Arbitrary- which is a purposeful solution of mental problems.

Thinking is the result of the reaction of the cerebral cortex to external stimuli, and thinking disorders are a manifestation of a disorder in information processing processes. In quite healthy people, minor or short-term disturbances in thinking may occur. At the same time, psychopathology reveals thinking disorders that are painful and pronounced. Some diseases can cause one or another type of thought disorder. Among them are dementia, schizophrenia, severe forms of epilepsy, the consequences of serious traumatic brain injuries and other diseases.

Types of thinking disorders

In psychopathology, the following types of thinking disorders are distinguished:

• Violation of the dynamics of thinking.
• Violation of the operational side of thinking.
• Violation of the motivational component of thinking.
• Violation of critical thinking.

Violations of the dynamics of thinking

These include the inertia of thinking and its lability.

inertia It is expressed in difficulty when switching from one way of doing work to another. The generalization of the material under changing conditions can be difficult, the viscosity of thinking, excessive thoroughness, excessive detail, and slowness of thought processes may appear.

Lability- this is instability, mobility of the way to perform the task. In this case, adequate and inadequate solutions alternate. With a good level of generalizations in general, from time to time there is a “failure” into random, incorrect combinations. New impressions change the train of thought, the logic of reasoning is broken, associations are chaotic, ideas “jump”, a person is constantly talking - these are the manifestations of this type of thought disorder. Share the following options:

• generalized situations alternate with specific situational ones;
• logical connections are erroneously replaced by random combinations;
• groupings are formed.

Violations of the operational side of thinking

These include lowering the level of generalization and distortion of the generalization process.

Downgrading It is characterized by the predominance in judgments of direct, concrete connections between objects and phenomena. So, for example, when classifying objects, heterogeneous concepts are combined into one group (for example, a pen and a table, because it is convenient to write with a pen at the table), that is, objects are combined on the basis of particular or secondary features.

Distortion of the generalization process- the opposite process, in which there is a departure from specific connections, and in an exaggerated form. At the same time, generalization is carried out on the basis of either insignificant, external signs, or on the basis of such general signs that they go beyond the content of the phenomena. For example, a spoon, a table and a shovel in this case end up in the same group, “because they are all solid”, that is, the connections do not reflect either the content of the phenomena or the semantic relationships between them.

Violation of the motivational component of thinking

This violation is expressed in the distortion of generalizations, diversity of thinking and reasoning. The loss of purposefulness of thinking leads to superficiality and incompleteness of judgments and to the loss of the function of regulating human actions by thinking.

Generalization distortion- this is a violation, which is expressed by the allocation of unrealistic generalizing features and properties. For example, a generalization of a spoon and a car because "both move".

Diversity of thinking. In this case, judgments simultaneously flow in several channels, and when generalizing, either the properties of objects or personal, sometimes paradoxical attitudes and views are taken as the basis. The shift in meaning as a result of such a violation of thinking can lead to a change in the structure of any activity.

reasoning- a violation in which reasoning is unproductive, since it is long-winded fruitless sophistication.

Violation of critical thinking

With this violation, there is a lack of control over their actions and correction of errors. Criticality is the ability to evaluate, control the work of thought, analyze, weigh the pros and cons. The most typical manifestations in the performance of experimental tasks in violation of critical thinking are indifference to one's own mistakes and thoughtless manipulation of objects.

Due to the plasticity of the brain, we can develop thinking, as well as other cognitive functions: attention, memory, perception. Educational games on - a convenient, practical and exciting way that brings results.

We sincerely wish you success in self-development!