The information that a person receives from the outside world allows him to form an idea not only about the external, but also about the internal aspect of the subject. He can imagine an object, assume its change in time. All this allows you to do human thinking. The concept, the processes that make it up, are studied within the framework of such a discipline as psychology.
Terminology
The concept of thinking has a number of specific features. First of all, it is a cognitive activity of a person, which is characterized by a mediated and generalized reflection of reality. Phenomena and objects of the real world have such properties and relationships that an individual can study directly. The concept of thinking is closely connected with a person's ability to perceive reality, to feel it. Cognition is carried out through the study of color, shape, sounds, features of the movement and placement of objects in space.
Signs
Opening the concept of thinking, it is necessary first of all to explain its mediatedcharacter. Everything that a person cannot know directly, is studied indirectly. Properties inaccessible for direct research are analyzed through other characteristics - available. Mediation is one of the key features included in the concept of thinking. The operations of thinking are always based on sensory experience: sensations, ideas, perceptions. In addition, the base is formed by previously acquired theoretical knowledge. Considering the concept of thinking, analysts point to another important feature - generalization. Cognition of the general in real objects is carried out because all their characteristics are related to each other.
Characteristic
The expression of generalizations is done with the help of language. At the same time, a verbal designation can refer not only to one single object, but also to a whole group of objects. Generalization is characteristic of images expressed in representations. However, they are limited to visibility. The word allows you to limitlessly generalize everything that a person knows, using thinking. The formation of concepts is a reflection of the essential properties of the object. A person perceives phenomena, analyzes them and generalizes signs into certain categories.
Thinking: concept, judgment, conclusion
The idea of an object is the highest product of brain activity. Judgment is a form of thinking that reflects real objects in their relationships and connections. Simply put, it represents an idea, a thought. The concept of "logical thinking"involves the creation of certain sequences consisting of conclusions. Such chains are necessary to solve a problem, to find an answer to a question. Such sequences are called reasoning. It has practical value only in the case when it leads to some specific conclusion - a conclusion. It, in turn, will be the answer to the question. In the concept of "logical thinking" conclusion is included as an integral and mandatory element. It gives knowledge about phenomena and objects that take place in the objective world. Conclusions can be deductive, inductive and by analogy.
Sensory Components
Considering the basic concepts of thinking, it is impossible not to say about its basis. It is created by ideas, perceptions, sensations. Information enters the brain through the sense organs. They act as the only channels of communication between a person and the outside world. The content of information is processed in the brain. Thinking is the most complex form of information processing. Solving problems in the brain, a person builds chains of ideas, comes to some kind of conclusion. So he cognizes the essence of things and phenomena, formulates laws and their connections. Based on all this, a person changes the world around him. Thinking is formed on the basis of perceptions and sensations. The transition from the sensual to the ideological presupposes certain actions. The work of the brain consists in isolating and isolating an object or its attribute, abstracting from the concrete, establishing a common thing for many objects.
Communicativecomponent
Despite the fact that the concepts of thinking, consciousness are formed on the basis of sensory cognition, the relationship with language is of the greatest importance for a person. It allows you to formulate and convey your conclusions. Modern psychologists do not believe that inner speech has the same functions and structure as outer speech. The first refers to the transitional link between the idea and the word. The mechanism by which the recoding of a general meaning into an utterance becomes possible is a preparatory stage.
Nuance
Considering the concept of thinking, speech, one important point should be noted. It has been established above that there is a close relationship between them. However, its presence does not mean that thinking is always reduced exclusively to speech. These elements belong to different categories and have distinctive features. Thinking is not talking about yourself. This can be confirmed by the possibility of expressing the same idea in different words. Moreover, a person cannot always find the right terms to express his conclusions.
Extra
Language acts as an objective form of thinking. An idea is expressed through the written or spoken word. In this form, it can be perceived not only by the author, but also by other people. Language ensures the preservation of thoughts. With its help, ideas are systematized and passed on to future generations. However, there are additional resources. Their description is often used by authors investigating the concept of "newthinking". In modern conditions, a person has to come up with new ways of transmitting data to speed up their knowledge and obtain conclusions. The most common means include conventional signs, electrical impulses, sound and light signals.
Classification
Types of thinking are determined depending on the place occupied by a word, action, image, their correlation. On this basis, three categories of knowledge are distinguished:
- Concretely effective (practical).
- Abstract.
- Concrete-shaped.
The indicated types are also classified according to the specifics of the tasks.
Concrete-effective cognition
It is focused on solving certain problems within the constructive, industrial, organizational or other practical activities of a person. Such thinking consists in understanding the technical aspects of objects and phenomena. Its key features include:
- pronounced powers of observation;
- attention to the elements;
- the ability to use details in specific situations;
- skills in working with spatial images and models;
- the ability to move quickly from thinking to acting and back again.
Visual-figurative cognition
As the name suggests, this kind of thinking is based on a person's ideas about objects and phenomena. This type of knowledge is also called artistic. It is characterized by abstract thought and generalization. Man uses his ideas to create visual images.
Abstraction
Verbal-logical thinking is focused mainly on the search for common natural or social patterns. Abstract (theoretical) knowledge makes it possible to reflect the relations and connections inherent in phenomena and objects. It uses broad categories and concepts. Images and representations serve as auxiliary functions.
Empirical method
He gives primary information. Knowledge is achieved through experience. Generalizations are formulated at the lowest level of abstraction. According to the psychologist Teplov, many authors consider the work of a theoretician (scientist) as the only model. However, practical (experimental) activity requires no less intellectual strength. The mental work of the theorist is concentrated mainly at the initial stage of cognition. It suggests a departure from practice. The intellectual work of the researcher focuses more on the transition from abstraction to experience. In practical thinking, the optimal ratio of the will and mind of a person, his energy, regulatory, cognitive capabilities is essential. This form of knowledge is associated with the operational formulation of priority tasks, the development of flexible programs and plans. In the tense conditions of his activity, the practitioner must have great self-control.
Theoretical knowledge
It contributes to the identificationgeneral relations. Theoretical thinking is connected with the study of an object in a system of relations. As a result, conceptual models are built, theories are created, experience is generalized, patterns of development of phenomena are revealed, information about which ensures the transformative work of a person. Theoretical knowledge is inextricably linked with practical. However, the former is distinguished by the relative independence of the results. Theoretical thinking is based on previous knowledge and serves as the basis for obtaining new information.
Other types of cognition
Depending on the non-standard or standard nature of the tasks and procedures performed, creative, heuristic, discursive, algorithmic thinking is distinguished. The latter is aimed at predetermined rules, a generally recognized sequence of specific actions that must be taken to achieve the goal. Discursive thinking is based on a system of inferences that have a relationship. Heuristic knowledge is focused on solving non-standard problems. Creative thinking is called thinking, which leads to obtaining fundamentally new results. In addition, there are also productive and reproductive cognition. The latter involves reproducing the results that were obtained earlier. In this case, there is a connection of thinking with memory. The productive method is just the opposite. Such thinking leads to completely new cognitive results.