Discover the freedom that abstract thinking generates

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What is abstract thinking? Discover it through a review of its characteristics, functions, examples and differences with concrete thinking.

Surely you have heard about abstract thinking at some point, but… do you really know what it is? It is a type of thinking that allows us to reflect on things that are not present in the current space and moment. It also allows us to reflect on general concepts and principles, both in our daily lives and in a more academic or professional field.

Does abstract thinking have any advantages? A 2006 study, prepared by the University of Amsterdamcame to the conclusion that People feel more powerful when they are allowed to think abstractly.. This could be evidence in favor of the advantage of abstract thinking over concrete thinking, which would have a more restrictive nature.

Do you want to know more about this type of thinking? How is it different from its “opposite”, concrete thought? What is it for and what are the benefits? We tell you everything here!

What is abstract thinking and what is it for?

According to him Psychology Dictionary, abstract thinking It is that ability to capture the essential and common properties. It would serve to keep the different aspects of a situation in mind, to foresee and plan the future, to think symbolically and draw conclusions. It would be the opposite of concrete thinking, which in this case is literal thinking based on present time and space.

What is this type of thinking for?

Abstract thinking, as we have already seen, allows us to realize the relationships between different ideas, beliefs or elements of the external and internal environment. Furthermore, it helps us to innovate, create, imagine, develop new ideas, learn from past experiences and reflect on the future.

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This type of thinking, furthermore, constitutes a cognitive ability. More specifically, it is one of the last cognitive skills that human beings acquire at an evolutionary level. Without further ado, let’s learn more about this type of thinking through a synthesis of its characteristics.

“Thought is the principal faculty of man, and the art of expressing thoughts is the first of the arts.”

-Étienne Bonnot de Condillac-

Main features

In summary, we can list a series of characteristics of abstract thought that refer to its form, content and functions:

It focuses on elements that are not present (it goes beyond the current environment). It allows you to imagine, create and innovate.Stimulates reflective thinking and deep. It helps us find diverse meanings for each situation. It allows us to generate ideas of the same typology.It is hypothetical-deductive thinking (It allows us to build hypotheses without the need to test them empirically). It is flexible thinking that stimulates debate.

Examples

To better understand this type of thinking, let’s think about concrete examples, such as a person who thinks beyond what is right in front of them. Illustrated: imagine a person who is reflecting on a specific book; You will use abstract thinking when thinking about multiple books, books that do not have to be in the same room or in front of it.

You can also think about books that represent you, books you have read, books that represent certain themes, etc. That is, imagination is also used in abstract thinking.

Another example of abstract thinking would be that used by an artist when choosing the best colors for his painting or a musician who chooses the best note to end his symphony.

We also use it on a daily basis, when we must analyze certain situations that involve reflecting on the past or the future. (beyond the present). In short: we find abstract thinking in multiple situations and scenarios.

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When does it emerge? Piaget’s hypothesis

The Swiss epistemologist and biologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) already spoke, in his time, about abstract thinking. Specifically, he developed the hypothesis according to which abstract thinking, as well as reasoning, develop in the last stage of development (the stage of formal operations). In fact, Piaget called abstract thinking “formal thinking.” for belonging to said evolutionary stage.

The formal operations stage begins between 11 and 15 years, and extends into adulthood. At this stage the following elements are central:

Hypothetical reasoning. Abstract reasoning. Systematic problem solving. Abstract thinking.

This type of thinking, according to Piaget, It has a lot to do with logic and the ability to solve problems. In this sense, it would be one of the distinctive characteristics of the human being, which distinguishes us from other animal species.

How to apply abstract thinking?

Can we apply this type of thinking in our daily lives? In what areas? This can be useful for our personal development, in areas as abstract as spirituality.

On the other hand, master abstract thinking (as well as its language) can also be useful in fields such as mathematics or science, since analytical reasoning requires the use of abstract thinking. Let’s not forget that in order to understand a certain topic or knowledge, we must be able to connect it with real life, so that it is much closer and more practical to us.

Differences between abstract thinking and concrete thinking

At the beginning of the article, we have alluded to concrete thinking as a type of thinking opposite to the one at hand. But how are these two types of thinking different? Let’s see it.

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Abstract thinking allows us to process, describe and manipulate mental information, while concrete thinking does the same, but with objects from the physical world.On the other hand, the abstract follows a hypothetico-deductive process, that is, it allows us to make hypotheses without the need to test them empirically. On the other hand, through concrete thinking, knowledge can only be formulated through direct experience with the phenomenon in question (that is, this would be a type of inductive thinking). Abstract goes from the general to the particular (which allows formulate laws and theories, for example). On the other hand, concrete goes from the particular to the general. Finally, the abstract allows for reflection and debate (it is a flexible thought), and concrete thinking, on the other hand, does not allow variations, since it is based on the tangible and the obvious.

Pathologies that affect this type of thinking

People who suffer from pathologies that affect their abstract cognition often fail in tasks of extrapolation, planning, and thinking symbolically. Among them are schizophrenia, dementia or dyscalculia. For all of them, a diagnosis is necessary that, apart from detecting this deficit in abstraction of thought, applies a treatment that guarantees quality of life.

As we have seen, abstract thinking “is found everywhere” and has notable advantages when it comes to stimulating other types of thinking such as reflection or reasoning. There are multiple types of thinking: convergent, divergent, practical, theoretical, literal… Which is the best? All and none; It will always be the one that best adapts to the task we want to develop.that is why flexibility is another added value to our cognition.