The 19 types of thinking and their characteristics

Thinking is one of the most mysterious and fascinating activities of the mind. This aspect of our cognitive life differentiates us from other species of animals. It is one of the connecting threads between what we are, do, feel and want.

Although it always seems so the same, it does not manifest itself in a single way. There are multiple types of thinking. Next, we will explore what it means to think, its different facets and the relationship that exists between it, language and emotions.

What is thought?

Thought is a cognitive process that allows us to form ideas and representations of the world, others and ourselves. According to an article published in the Redipe Virtual Bulletin, “Thought is a psychic function by virtue of which an individual uses representations, strategies and operations in the face of real, ideal or imaginary situations or events.”

Now, no matter how hard we try to define thought, we will fall short. Well It is a complex processwhose underlying neurological mechanism continues to be one of the great mysteries, not only for neurology, but for science in general.

Even so, we can define some of its features:

It has an abstract nature: It is an intangible process that allows ideas to be manipulated and sensory information transformed into concepts. Abstraction is essential to understand theoretical approaches, plan and understand new definitions.It is influenced by environmental and biological factors: From a neurobiological perspective, the functioning of the brain and its structures support the activity of thought. For its part, the environment, which is characterized by personal experiences, upbringing, education and social interactions, shape the way of thinking.Allows you to create ideas: The mind can form novel ideas, join concepts, and create mental representations. Additionally, it plays an important role in reorganizing stored information to process and shape new content.Enables symbol manipulation: Thinking is closely linked to the use of symbols, which allow us to represent objects, actions and ideas. All this is crucial for language and different forms of communication.Can be optimized: Like other cognitive processes (perception, attention, memory), it can be improved through practice. Exercises, challenges and activities that challenge the mind through reflection, introspection and the use of different types of thoughts can be very useful to enhance it.

Disciplines that study thinking

Thought, being such a complex entity, is approached by different fields of knowledge and from different angles. Among them we find:

psychology. This discipline approaches the influence of thought on behavior and emotions, and vice versa. Likewise, it studies cognitive distortions and proposes healthier alternatives. It also studies how language and the environment affect thinking.The logic. It is a formal science that addresses the laws that govern human thought and determines the correct forms of reasoning.The philosophy. Since ancient times, it has provided numerous reflections on the nature of thought and its characteristics, which has contributed to the advancement of empirical sciences that study this and other mental phenomena.psychiatry. It is the branch of medicine that analyzes modes of thought and treats the disorders that arise from their alteration.

The different types of thinking

Reflect, imagine, daydream, worry about things that have not happened yet, judge, think of a solution for that problem that causes us insomnia. Throughout the day, we have different thoughts and all of them modulate the way we process and react to what surrounds us and happens. Let’s look at the most common ones.

1. Reflective thinking

Think reflectively allows us to analyze the different realities that surround us in a deep, thoughtful and serene way. Encourages non-impulsive decision making. Developing it in children is crucial so that, in the future, they can have a more critical attitude. Its features include:

Stimulates introspection and self-knowledge. Uses open-mindedness and patience. Develops learning from past experiences. Allows postponement of judgment. Enhances the consideration of multiple perspectives.

2. Critical thinking

Few skills are as necessary as reasoning and deciding critically.. Critical thinking goes beyond what is apparent and what is normative, to capture nuances, question the obvious and find contradictions and loose ends. It is in those small edges of everyday life where, sometimes, the great revelations are found. Among its qualities are:

Encourages the development of argumentation. Appeals to intellectual curiosity and frequent questioning. Uses constructive skepticism. Stimulates the ability to recognize and evaluate assumptions. Enhances the ability to discern between opinions and facts.

3. Deductive thinking

Through it, information is inferred from the analysis of certain specific variables. This process is carried out at starting from some general premises, to then reach a particular conclusion. In a way, this is one of the types of thinking that we use most on a daily basis.

If I enter, for example, a store and see that many of the pieces of clothing I look at have very high prices, I deduce that that store is too expensive for my finances. Thus, this reasoning is characterized by:

It seeks support in the logical structure. It needs a base of stored knowledge. It draws conclusions from general premises. It predicts consequences of events or actions. It allows one to infer data according to a set of given variables.

4. Inductive thinking

Inductive reasoning is that which It is part of a series of particular observations, which allow the production of general laws and conclusions. It is opposite to deductive, since it goes from the particular to the general, while the other goes from the general to the particular. Its features include:

It allows you to generalize based on specific data. It is useful for generating hypotheses. It draws possible conclusions, although they may not be true. It belongs, to a greater extent, to the field of scientific research. It stimulates inquiry and discovery.

5. Logical thinking

Logical thinkers are great observers. They analyze each fact meticulously, compare, deduce and infer, and later draw conclusions. based on all that available information. This allows them to always justify each step thanks to each data they collect. Some characteristics of people with this thinking are:

They organize ideas and thoughts. They have rational properties. They make use of analysis and understanding. They use reason and not so much imagination. They are useful for solving problems. They generate solid ideas and arguments.

6. Creative thinking

This thought can change our lives. People who reason creatively explore multiple perspectives and possibilities. Having innovative and genuine ideas allows us to take different cognitive paths to the ordinary ones. Other features are:

It allows fluidity and flexibility of ideas. It generates unusual connections. It can manifest in all areas of life. It leads to innovation and original solutions. It integrates knowledge, curiosity, flexibility and imagination.

As useful information, a study published at the Radboud University of Nijmegen (Netherlands) highlights that Creating training programs in creative thinking improves academic results in students.

7. Systematic thinking

One of the most interesting types of thinking is systematic or systemic. This refers to contact with what surrounds us, to understand each component without transforming it. It is putting a magnifying glass on things and trying to understand what they are made of. Some of its features are:

Contemplates the world as a set of connected parts. Prefers wholeness over elements. Focuses its resources on the interrelationships of the components of something. Understands things as ordered systems. Allows analysis of how each aspect of something is integrated into a network of relationships. .

8. Deliberative thinking

He is the one who acts, decides and thinks based on his values ​​and emotions. In this case, reflection is put aside to behave and respond authentically, human, emotional. Deliverative thinking has several peculiarities:

It has links to ethics and morality. It involves the consideration of long-term effects. It promotes coherence between what is thought and what is done. It is focused on authenticity and personal congruence.

9. Divergent thinking

Spontaneity, creativity, challenge, originality. Divergent or lateral thinking is capable of generating multiple and ingenious solutions to a specific problem.. This cognitive flexibility allows us to deactivate the dogmatism of everyday life. Other of its properties are:

Encourages the creation of ideas. Provides openness to new experiences. Allows finding different solutions to a problem. Promotes risk-taking and tolerance for failure. Is involved in brainstorming.

10. Convergent thinking

Among the different types of thinking, convergent thinking is the one most associated with logic, reason, induction and deduction. It uses that logical approach based on experience that we regularly use to solve problems. Some of its features are:

It is focused on the practicality of the solutions. It seeks the best option based on prior knowledge. It is effective in finding the right answers. It adds value to the synthesis and summary processes. It is involved in decision making.

11. Magical thinking

Magical thinking is typical of children, superstitious people, or even some religions. We also find it in certain literary genres. Consists in reaching conclusions based on unsound, unjustified, fanciful or supernatural variables. Among its features are:

It is sometimes associated with the supernatural. It influences the perception of control over unexpected or uncontrollable events. It is also present in superstitious rituals. It promotes a more magical approach to life.

On certain occasions, many of us can also drift into this magical reasoning. An example of this is accepting the classic idea that “it is enough to want something very much for it to happen.”

12. Analogical thinking

It is one of the types of thinking that allows us to draw similarities between ideas, concepts, objects, people, etc., although…