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Verbal-logical (abstract) thinking and exercises for its development

Verbal-logical thinking is characterized by the fact that a person who observes a certain picture as a whole, singles out only the most significant qualities from it, not paying attention to minor details that simply complement this picture. There are usually three forms of such thinking:

• Concept - when objects are grouped according to features;
• Judgment - when any phenomenon or connections between objects are affirmed or denied;
• Inference - when specific conclusions are drawn on the basis of several judgments.

Everyone should develop verbal-logical thinking, but it is especially useful to form it from an early age in children, because this is an excellent training of memory and attention, as well as fantasy. Here are some exercises you can use for yourself or your child:

• Set a timer for 3 minutes, write during this time the maximum number of words beginning with the letters "g", "sh", "h" and "z".
• Take a few simple phrases like "what's for breakfast?", "let's go to the movies", "come over" and "there's a new exam tomorrow" and read them backwards.
• There are several groups of words: “sad, cheerful, slow, cautious”, “dog, cat, parrot, penguin”, “Sergey, Anton, Kolya, Tsarev, Olga” and “triangle, square, board, oval”. From each group, select those words that do not fit the meaning.
• Identify the differences between a ship and an airplane, grass and a flower, a story and a verse, an elephant and a rhinoceros, a still life and a portrait.
• A few more groups of words: “House - walls, foundation, windows, roof, wallpaper”, “War - weapons, soldiers, bullets, attack, map”, “Youth - growth, joy, choice, love, children”, “Road - cars, pedestrians, traffic, asphalt, poles.” Choose from each group one or two words without which the concept ("home", "war", etc.) could exist as such.

These exercises, again, can be quite easily modernized and modified, simplifying or complicating at your discretion. It is thanks to this that each of them can be an excellent way to train abstract thinking, both in adults and in children. By the way, any such exercises, among other things, perfectly develop the intellect.

Visual-effective thinking and exercises for its development

Visual-effective thinking can be described as the process of solving mental problems by transforming the situation that has arisen in real life. It is rightfully considered the first way to process the information received, and it develops very actively in children under 7 years old, when they begin to combine all kinds of objects into one whole, analyze them and operate with them. And in adults, this type of thinking is expressed in identifying the practical benefits of the objects of the surrounding world, being the so-called manual intellect. The brain is responsible for the development of visual-effective thinking.

An excellent way to learn and train here is the usual game of chess, solving puzzles and sculpting all kinds of figures from plasticine, but there are also several effective exercises:

• Take your pillow and try to determine its weight. Then weigh your clothes in the same way. After that, try to determine the area of ​​​​the room, kitchen, bathroom and other rooms in your apartment.
• Draw a triangle, a rhombus and a trapezoid on the landscape sheets. Then take the scissors and turn all these shapes into a square, cutting once in a straight line.
• Lay out 5 matches on the table in front of you and make 2 equal triangles out of them. After that, take 7 matches and make 2 triangles and 2 squares out of them.
• Buy a constructor in the store and make various shapes out of it - not only those indicated in the instructions. It is recommended that there be as many details as possible - at least 40-50.

As an effective addition to these exercises, chess and more, you can use our excellent.

Logical thinking and exercises for its development

Logical thinking is the basis of a person's ability to think and reason consistently and without contradictions. It is necessary in most life situations: from ordinary dialogues and shopping to solving various problems and developing intelligence. This type of thinking contributes to the successful search for justifications for any phenomena, a meaningful assessment of the world around us and judgments. The main task in this case is to obtain true knowledge about the subject of reflection based on the analysis of its various aspects.

Among the recommendations for the development of logical thinking, one can single out the solution of logical problems (and this is also an excellent training of memory and attention in children and adults), passing tests for the IQ, logic games, self-education, reading books (especially detective stories), and training intuition .

As for specific exercises, we advise you to take note of the following:

• From several sets of words, for example: “armchair, table, sofa, stool”, “circle, oval, ball,”, “fork, towel, spoon, knife”, etc. you need to choose a word that does not fit the meaning. Despite its simplicity, this is a very effective technology for the development of logical thinking, and similar sets and exercises can be found in large numbers on the Internet.
• Collective exercise: get together with friends or the whole family and divide into two teams. Let each team invite the opposite team to solve a semantic riddle, where the content of some text is transmitted. The point is to define. Here is a small example: “The clergyman had an animal in the household. He experienced strong warm feelings for him, however, despite this, he performed a violent action on him, which led to his death. This happened for the reason that the animal did something unacceptable - it ate part of the food that was not intended for it. Thinking logically, one can recall a children's song that begins with the words: "The priest had a dog, he loved her ..."
• Another group game: a member of one team performs an action, and a member of the other must find its cause, and then the cause of the cause, and so on until all the motives for the behavior of the first participant are clarified.

Again, these exercises (in particular the last two) are excellent ways to develop logical thinking and intelligence, suitable for people of all ages.

Creative thinking and exercises for its development

Creative thinking is a type of thinking that allows you to systematize and analyze ordinary information in an unusual way. In addition to the fact that it contributes to the extraordinary solution of typical tasks, questions and problems, it also increases the efficiency of a person's assimilation of new knowledge. Applying creative thinking, people can consider objects and phenomena from different angles, awaken in themselves the desire to create something new - something that did not exist before (this is the understanding of creativity in its classical sense), develop the ability to move from one task to another and find a lot of interesting options for doing work and ways out of life situations.

Ways to develop creative thinking are based on the idea that a person realizes only a small percentage of his potential during his life, and his task is to find opportunities to activate unused resources. The technology for developing creativity is based, first of all, on several recommendations:

• You need to improvise and always look for new ways to solve everyday problems;
• No need to focus on established frameworks and rules;
• You should expand your horizons and constantly learn something new;
• You need to travel as much as possible, discover new places and meet new people;
• It is necessary to make learning new skills and abilities a habit;
• You should try to do something better than others.

But, of course, there are also certain exercises for the development of creative thinking (by the way, we advise you to familiarize yourself with our courses on the development of creative thinking and thinking in general - you will find them).

Now let's talk about exercises:

• Take several concepts, for example, “youth”, “man”, “coffee”, “kettle”, “morning” and “candle”, and select for each of them the maximum possible number of nouns that define their essence.
• Take several pairs of different concepts, for example, "piano - car", "cloud - steam locomotive", "tree - picture", "water - well" and "airplane - capsule" and select the maximum number of similar features for them.
• Imagine several situations and think about what might happen in each of them. Examples of situations: “aliens are walking around the city”, “it’s not water that runs from the tap in your apartment, but lemonade”, “all pets have learned to speak human language”, “it snows in your city in the middle of summer for a week”.
• Look around the room where you are now, and stop looking at any object that interests you, for example, on a closet. Write down on a piece of paper 5 adjectives that match it, and then 5 adjectives that are completely opposite.
• Think of your job, hobby, favorite singer or actor, best friend or significant other, and describe it (him/her) in at least 100 words.
• Remember some saying or, and write, based on it, a short essay, verse or essay.
• Write a list of 10 purchases you would make before the end of the world.
• Write a daily plan for your cat or dog.
• Imagine that when you returned home, you saw that the doors of all the apartments were open. Write 15 reasons why this might have happened.
• Make a list of 100 of your life goals.
• Write a letter to yourself in the future - when you are 10 years older.

Also, to activate your creativity and intelligence, you can use two excellent methods in everyday life - and. These ways to develop creativity will help you break all stereotypes, expand your comfort zone and develop an original and unlike anything else type of thinking.

In conclusion, we say that if you have a desire to organize or continue your education and develop your thinking more efficiently, then you will certainly like one of our courses, which you can familiarize yourself with.

For the rest, we wish you every success and comprehensively developed thinking!

For some reason, people often or complain about, but no one complains about thinking. In general, one gets the impression that the very need to develop thinking is of little concern to us. Don't you think this is strange? For the majority of people, the process of the birth of a thought is no less mysterious than the birth of the Galaxy. But thinking is also different. But before we talk about the types of thinking, let's figure out what it is.

Every second a person receives a variety of information from the outside world. The result of the work of our sense organs are visual images, sounds, smells, taste and tactile sensations, data on the state of the body. All this we receive as a result of direct sensual . This is the primary information, the building material with which our thinking works.

The process of processing sensory data, their analysis, comparison, generalization, conclusions - this is thinking. This is the highest cognitive process, during which new, unique knowledge is created, the information that is not in our sensory experience.

An example of such a birth of new knowledge is the simplest construction - a syllogism, consisting of two premises - empirical (given in direct experience) knowledge and one conclusion - a conclusion.

• The first premise is that all students take exams in the winter.
• The second premise: Ivanov is a student.
• Conclusion: Ivanov takes exams in winter.

This conclusion is the result of elementary thinking, because we don’t know if Ivanov takes exams in winter, but we get this knowledge with the help of reasoning. Although, of course, most often the process of the birth of a thought is more complex and even confusing.

The birth of a thought

Everyone knows that thoughts are born in the head, or rather, in the brain. But to answer the question of how this happens is not easy.

The main role in thinking and in general in mental activity is played by nerve cells - neurons. And we have at least a trillion of them, and each neuron is a whole data processing factory. It is connected with other neurons by numerous nerve fibers and exchanges with them electrochemical impulses that carry information. Moreover, the rate of transmission of this information is 100 m/sec. It is this high-speed data exchange that is thinking, and it was not for nothing that in ancient times it was believed that the fastest thing in the world was human thought.

If you imagine the process of thinking in the form of a vivid image, then it resembles fireworks. First, one asterisk flashes - an impulse or a signal from an external stimulus. Then, along the chain of nerve cells, it scatters in breadth and depth with new bursts of activity, covering an ever larger space of the brain.

Interestingly, passing through the neural circuits of the brain, the impulse must overcome certain "obstacles" at the junctions of nerve fibers. But each subsequent signal along this path will already be much easier. That is, the more we think, the more often we make the brain work, the easier the process of thinking becomes.

Knowledge, of course, has a high value. But they are necessary first of all as material for thinking. We become smarter not when we receive new knowledge, but when we comprehend it, include it in activities, that is, we think.

The Mystery of the Two Hemispheres: Right Brain and Left Brain Thinking

In what form is a thought born in our head? It is not easy to answer this question, since thought is a process and a product of information processing, and information in the brain exists in two forms.

1. Sensory and emotional images. From the outside world, it comes in the form of sensory images: sounds, colors, pictures, smells, tactile sensations, etc. Very often, these vivid images are also emotionally colored.
2. Abstract signs - words, numbers, verbal constructions, formulas, etc. Words can denote (replace) any sensual images or be abstract in nature, such as numbers.

Scientists say that a person thinks in two languages ​​- in the language of words and in the language of images. There is even a special kind of thinking - conceptual, that is, verbal. Moreover, the centers responsible for conceptual and figurative thinking are located in different hemispheres of the brain, and these two types of information are processed differently. The left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for the operations of our consciousness with words and numbers, and the right hemisphere is responsible for operations with sensory images. By the way, the center of creative abilities is also located in the right hemisphere, it is associated with intuition and the subconscious.

The famous physiologist I.P. Pavlov believed that among us there are people who have one of two types of mental activity:

• right hemispheric - this is an artistic type, thinking based on images and sensory perception;
• left hemispheric - thinking type, better operating with concepts, abstract signs.

However, it is not necessary to divide all people into these two types. Most of us are of the middle type and use both words and images in our mental activity. And depending on the goal, the task, the problem facing us, either the right or the left hemisphere is activated.

In general, in an adult fully developed person, all types and types of thinking are represented, including its three main types:

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

Although all these three types of thinking are not formed at once.

Visual Action Thinking

This is the most ancient type of mental activity that arose among the primitive ancestors of man and was first formed in a small child. And yet, according to scientists, it is this type of mental activity that higher animals have.

Thinking is called mediated mental activity, because, unlike direct sensory perception, it uses "intermediaries" - images or words. And visual-effective thinking is distinguished by the fact that material objects act as such “intermediaries” in it. This kind of thinking arises only in the process of objective activity, when a person manipulates objects.

Children's hand thinking

I think everyone saw how a small child of 2-3 years old plays: he makes a tower of cubes, assembles a pyramid, folding the wheels to size, or even unscrews the wheels of a new car. It's not just a game. The baby thinks and develops mentally. While only visual-effective thinking is available to him, his mental operations take the form of objective, manipulative activity:

• Comparison - the choice of a circle or cube that is suitable in size.
• Synthesis - the compilation of individual elements-cubes of a single whole - the tower.
• Well, and analysis, when the baby disassembles the whole thing (car or doll) into separate components.

Scientists call visual-effective thinking pre-thinking, emphasizing that there is more direct-sensory in it than indirect. But this is a very important stage in the development of mental activity, including the mental development of the child.

Visual-effective thinking in adults

This kind of thinking cannot be considered primitive or inferior. In adults, it is also present and actively participates in objective activities. For example, we use it when we cook soup, dig beds in the garden, knit socks or fix the tap in the bathroom. And for some, this type of thinking even at times prevails over abstract-logical and figurative. Such people are called masters "from God", they say that they have "golden hands".

By the way, the hands, not the head. Because such people can fix a complex mechanism without understanding the principle of its operation. To do this, they just need to disassemble it, and then reassemble it. By disassembling, they will understand why the breakdown is due, and by assembling, they will fix it, and even improve the unit.

Visual-figurative thinking

The main tools of visual-figurative thinking are images, as a result of sensory perception and comprehension of reality. That is, the image is not a photographic imprint of the object, but the result of the work of our brain. Therefore, it may differ to some extent from the original.

The role of images in mental activity

Our thinking operates with three types of images.

1. Images-perceptions are associated with the direct activity of our senses: visual pictures, sounds, smells, etc. These are also not photographic copies of reality, because we can not hear something, not see some details - the brain thinks, adds missing.
2. Representation images are figurative information that is stored in our memory. And when saved, the images become even less accurate, since not too significant and important details are lost or forgotten.
3. Imagination images are the result of one of the most mysterious cognitive processes. With the help of imagination, we can recreate from the description or come up with an image of a creature or object that has never been seen. However, these images are also connected with reality, as they are the result of processing and combining the information stored in memory.

All three types of images are actively involved in cognitive activity, even if we are talking about abstract-logical thinking. Without this type of information, neither problem solving nor creativity is possible.

The specificity of figurative thinking

Figurative thinking is a higher stage of mental activity, but it also does not need words too much. After all, we can comprehend even such abstract concepts as “love”, “hatred”, “fidelity”, “resentment” through images and feelings.

In a child, figurative thinking begins to form somewhere at the age of 3, and the peak of its development is considered to be 5-7 years. No wonder this time is called the age of dreamers and artists. At this period of development, children already have a good command of speech activity, but the words do not interfere with the images at all, they complement and clarify them.

It is believed that the language of images is more complicated than the language of words, because there are many more images, they are diverse, colored with numerous shades of feelings. Therefore, there are not enough words to designate all the images involved in our thinking.

Figurative thinking is the basis of the highest cognitive process - creativity. It is inherent not only to artists, poets, musicians, but also to all those who have a high level of creativity and love to invent new things. But for the bulk of people, visual-figurative thinking fades into the background, giving way to abstract-logical thinking.

Abstract logical thinking

This type of thinking is considered the highest, it is specially taught to children at school, and often the level of its development is identified with intelligence. Although this is not entirely correct, because without the participation of figurative thinking with the help of only logical one, only elementary tasks can be solved - albeit complex ones, but having one and only correct solution. There are many such problems in mathematics, but in real life they are rare.

But abstract-logical thinking is also valuable because it allows you to operate with abstract concepts that do not have reliance on real images, such as, for example, function, differential, justice, conscience, volume, length, etc.

Logical Thinking Tools

This type of thinking is closely related to speech activity, so the prerequisites for its development appear in children when they have fully mastered speech. The tools of logical thinking are words and verbal constructions - sentences. The very name of this type of thinking comes not so much from the word "logic", but from the Greek "logos" - a word, concept, thought.

Words in abstract-logical thinking replace images, actions, feelings. This allows you to think in an abstract, abstract way, out of touch with a specific situation or object. Animals, even the higher ones, which are not endowed with the ability for speech activity, are deprived of such an opportunity.

The process of abstract-logical thinking is sometimes called inner speech, since it proceeds in verbal form. Moreover, if reflections (inner speech) do not bring success in solving the problem or understanding the issue, then psychologists recommend switching to external speech, that is, to reasoning aloud. In this case, a person will no longer be distracted by randomly and spontaneously arising images and associations.

Features of abstract-logical thinking

We said that imaginative thinking is voluminous, multifaceted and allows you to see the situation or problem as a whole, on a large scale. In contrast, abstract-logical thinking is discrete, as it consists of separate bricks, elements. These building blocks are words and sentences. The use of words allows you to organize thinking, streamline it. Such an organization makes vague, vague thoughts clearer and clearer.

And logical thinking is linear, it is subject to the laws of the algorithm, which require you to consistently move from one mental operation to another. The most important thing for him is the consistent alignment of reasoning.

Development of abstract-logical thinking

This way of thinking can be troublesome when thoughts start to get confused, as if they run in different directions, or flicker like mosquitoes on a summer evening. A person does not have time to seriously think through one thought, and it is replaced by the next, and often not related to the main problem. Or a brilliant idea strikes, flashes for a moment and flies away to get lost in the labyrinth of convolutions. And it’s such a pity, because the idea is not bad, efficient! Just don't catch her. This stupid "thought catching" is annoying, tiring and makes you want to give up on these chaotic thoughts and look for a ready-made solution on the Internet. The reason for such difficulties is simple - the lack of skill in mental activity. Thinking, like any other activity, needs constant training.

Do you know the saying: "Who thinks clearly, he speaks clearly"? This law can be read in reverse. Logical thinking requires well-developed, clear, orderly speech. But this is not enough. If figurative thinking is spontaneous, spontaneous, intuitive and depends on inspiration, then ordered logical thinking obeys strict laws that were formulated in the era of Antiquity more than 2 thousand years ago. At the same time, a special science arose that studied the laws of thinking - logic. Knowledge of the laws and rules of mental activity is a prerequisite for mastering logical thinking.

And although this type of thinking is considered the highest, it should not be limited to it. This is not a panacea and not a unique multifunctional tool. The most effective problem that confronts us can be solved by connecting figurative thinking.

Creative thinking

There is another species that stands somewhat apart. It began to be studied relatively recently, but studies have already proved the fundamental importance of this type of thinking not only for a full-fledged human life, but also for the development of human civilization. This is . But it is worth talking about it separately.

One often hears people complain about a bad memory or complain about absent-mindedness. And, accordingly, they are looking for an opportunity to improve the process of memorization, develop their attention and observation. But I have never heard anyone say that they cannot think and would like to learn how to think. This is very strange, because mental abilities are important in any activity. Maybe this happens because thinking is such a valuable gift that it is a shame to admit its lack?

Perhaps another equally important reason for the reluctance to develop thinking is the belief that it is impossible for an adult to do this. And the only way to become even a little smarter is to accumulate knowledge.

But this point of view is wrong. It is not only possible, but necessary, to develop thinking in an adult, and knowledge alone will not get you far. Information, regardless of its volume, is only a building material for thinking. Bricks alone are not enough for a bricklayer to build a beautiful castle, he also needs skills, abilities, knowledge of technical techniques and craftsmanship as an alloy of all this together.

You can, of course, recall the developers' statement that it does not change with age. But thinking is not exactly intelligence. Thinking is an activity, and any one requires mastering and developing skills. The process of forming mental skills not only enriches a person with new ways and methods of thinking, but also develops and complicates the brain itself.

Our brain is a very flexible and sensitive instrument, which is designed for constant active work. The efficiency and quality of our thinking just depend on it. After all, in the process of the brain's work, new connections are formed between neurons, neural networks become more complex, which means that the ability to think develops.

So, the answer to the question “is it necessary to develop thinking” is obvious. It remains to figure out how to do it.

Development of abstract-logical thinking

It is considered the highest form of the thought process, although this can be argued, since it is not connected with it, but with figurative thinking. But, one way or another, logic is necessary for an adult to solve a wide variety of problems: from everyday, everyday, to professional and scientific.

What to develop

Logical thinking is based on several mental operations:

• Analysis is the division of a single whole into separate significant elements, understanding the structure of things and phenomena, their systemic organization.
• Comparison is a comparison of individual elements of the system, individual things and phenomena in order to determine their similarities and differences.
• Synthesis is the transition from individual elements to the whole, the unification of parts, often associated with their combination in a new combination.
• Abstraction is a distraction from the non-essential or a transition from objective thinking to thinking using abstract concepts (numbers, formulas), replacing specific images with abstract concepts.

The first three basic operations can be illustrated by a common children's game of colored pyramids. The child disassembles the already assembled pyramid and examines its rings - this is an analysis. Then, during the assembly process, he compares the rings by size, sometimes by color and shape - this is a comparison. Then he assembles a pyramid of individual elements - synthesis. This is how the thought process proceeds at the level of visual-effective thinking accessible to the baby. And we want to develop a logical one, so we will perform operations not with rings and cubes, but with concepts.

For logical thinking, developed speech is also necessary, since this thinking proceeds in a conceptual form. Moreover, this applies not only to oral, but also to written speech, which in itself is more logical and orderly.

How to develop

Logical thinking is based on strict laws and rules that were developed by ancient philosophers, and logic has always been considered the art of thinking. Theoretical knowledge, although useful, is not sufficient for development. If you do not know them, then this is not an obstacle to development. It is more important practice, mastering skills. And thinking skills, like any other skills, are formed in the process of training. And for those who want to develop logic skills, we can offer several exercises.

Exercises to develop logical thinking

There are many ways to develop logical thinking in activities. For example, psychologists advise to read more. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s fiction or scientific literature, the main thing is to comprehend what you read, write down your thoughts, conclusions, argue with the author, catch him on contradictions. Board and computer games based on it, for example, chess, checkers, sea battle and others, help well in the development of logic.

You can use specially designed exercises for this purpose.

Exercise "Logic chains"

This is one of the most common training tasks for the development of logic. It has many forms, types, modifications for different ages. Its goal is to learn to establish logical connections between things, phenomena, concepts.

Option 1

Example: given two objects - a fish and a bottle. Find something that connects them. Possible answers include:

• both objects have a similar streamlined shape;
• both fish and bottle are associated with water;
• if the bottle is plastic, then it, like a fish, can swim;
• the fish and the bottle may have the same color;
• both objects contain substances useful for humans, etc.

Option 2

Two events occur, separated by a relatively short period of time:

1. A pencil falls to the floor from the head of the firm's desk.
2. There is a fire in the room of one of the southern resorts.

Establish a logical connection between the first and second event. See how many intermediate events will be in your logical chain. Try to build another, where there are more or less events.

If the exercise is carried out in a group, then it will be interesting to compare and analyze the logical chains of all participants, to choose the most interesting one. You can continue the exercise by inventing the next event and establishing a connection already between the fire and it.

Exercise "Writing proposals"

Logical thinking is closely connected with speech activity; in general, it proceeds mainly in conceptual and sign form. Therefore, for the development of logical thinking, it is useful to write short (and long) stories, essays, notes, and keep a diary.

And for those who are not very good at it or feel sorry for the time, you can start with separate proposals. But not simple, but uniting unrelated concepts and objects. Your task is not just to write a sentence, but in such a way that it looks quite logical.

We choose three objects that are maximally unrelated to each other. For example: "squirrel", "helicopter" and "cup of cappuccino". Now compose a phrase that would logically unite these objects. Here, for example, such a sentence can be composed: “I was relaxing on the veranda when a squirrel fell out of a helicopter flying over me and plopped right into my cup of cappuccino.”

Try to come up with your own proposal or choose the other three objects. For example: scissors, shark, barbecue; book, lemon, circus, etc.

Exercise "I'll say it differently"

This exercise is also for the development of verbal thinking, which is the basis of logical thinking. Come up with some simple, even banal phrase relating to an ordinary event. For example: "We love Friday because it's the last day of the work week."

Now express the same idea, but in different words. The main condition: not a single word from the original phrase should be repeated. How many such new sentences with the same meaning can you make?

Logical thinking is undoubtedly important, and it is impossible to do without it in any area of ​​\u200b\u200blife. But imaginative thinking is no less important.

Figurative thinking and its development

Figurative thinking is controlled by the right hemisphere of the brain, the center of a person is also located there. This, in general, says it all. But the problem is that the right hemisphere is at first ahead of the left in development, and at the age of 3-5 years it dominates in mental activity. But then the active development of the sign function (speech, writing, counting) stimulates the development of the left hemisphere, which is responsible for abstract logical thinking. The activity of the right hemisphere decreases, and figurative thinking fades into the background.

"But what about creativity?" - you ask. That's it. , the development of creative potential is impossible without operations with images. And outside of creativity, this thinking is needed. The ability to reproduce pictures, sounds, smells, movements, analyze them, combine them, and include them in mental and objective activity is associated with it. Moreover, it has been proven that any mental act begins with the birth of images, and proceeds in close connection with them.

What to develop

Returning to the question of the development of figurative thinking, we will determine in which direction to move, what properties and qualities of our psyche need to be developed:

• figurative;
• operations with images, their analysis, comparison, combination;
• imagination, as the ability to create new images;
• combinatorial activity - the ability to consciously and purposefully construct images from the elements of what is stored in memory;
• to see the qualities and properties of things hidden from logical thinking;
• the ability to fantasize.

One of the most effective ways to develop imaginative thinking is to engage in creativity. It helps to constantly keep the right hemisphere in good shape, so many of the exercises contain an element of creativity.

Exercise "Recreating Images"

Most of us are concerned with the accumulation of knowledge. We strive to remember the necessary information, names, dates, numbers, rules. And how often do we try to remember and consciously keep images in memory? Are they less important? For example, the image of an autumn park in your hometown or the face of a loved one, the smell of grandma's pies or the sound of the surf. After all, most often what we remember is random fragments of impressions. Let's try to change this and practice reproducing images.

Let's start simple. Remember the face of someone close to you. Try to reproduce it in detail, remembering every stroke, wrinkle, mole. Now imagine that this person is smiling, sad, frowning, winking at you.

Now let's move on to more complex tasks.

Imagine five colored objects. First, five reds, for example, strawberries, a balloon, etc. Then five oranges, and so on throughout the spectrum. To avoid confusion, write down these seven groups of objects in order.

Imagine an image of a tree you know (birch under the window, maple on the way to work). Try to remember it in detail and pay attention to what time of the year you see this tree. Now imagine how the image will change at another time - autumn, winter, spring, summer. The image of a tree can be replaced by the image of a house or a street, a river or a yard.

Remember and imagine different sounds: 5 sounds of nature (the sound of rain, the rustle of autumn leaves, etc.), 5 sounds of the city, 5 sounds made by animals, 5 sounds of mechanisms.

Remember and imagine in detail some event (holiday, family dinner, meeting with the boss, etc.). Try to remember images of people, furniture, utensils, trying to imagine colors, sounds, taste sensations, and smells.

Exercises "Fantastic Images"

Creative is the "aerobatics" of imaginative thinking, so let's practice creating new images. Of what? And from everything that is in our memory. But to facilitate the process, let's take some basis. For example, sign. This is an attribute of logical thinking, the more interesting it is to use it for the development of figurative thinking.

A sign - it can be a number, a letter, or some kind of mathematical symbol such as an integral - is an abstract object, it does not exist in the objective world. But we will eliminate this injustice. Imagine, for example, the number 4 in the form of a material and living being, endowed with its own characteristics, character, habits, preferences. And write a short story. Try to make the image of the four as realistic as possible. Think about where she lives, what she prefers for dinner, who she is friends with, what she does.

At first, this may seem difficult and even strange. But do not give up, it is our left hemisphere, outraged by the illogical thinking, that blocks the flight of fantasy. Do not let him suppress his imagination, connect him to work. What is more logical for the number 4? What activity suits her better?

You can also create an image of a sound, such as the noise of a vacuum cleaner. What is he - good or evil, warm or cold? What color is the sound of a vacuum cleaner? Why are cats afraid of him? Maybe they see some evil creature? What does it look like?

Games with images are loved by both children and adults, but these are not just games, they are a very powerful tool for the development of our thinking and psyche as a whole. After all, everything that goes beyond the boring and gray routine makes the gears of our brain spin faster. Don't let them rust out of work. After all, even the medieval philosopher Rene Descartes said: “Sogito ergo sum” - “I think, therefore I exist.”

Decisiveness, quickness and flexibility of thinking, developed intuition, the ability to overcome internal brakes and fears - this is not a complete list of qualities inherent in a person with a developed imaginative thinking. After all, with figurative thinking, right-hemispheric activity predominates, which oh, how lacking for a Western person.

Development of figurative thinking- weigh all the pros and cons? To start:
Thinking is a reflection of reality, mediated by the word.
Types of thinking:
in form(1. visual-effective; 2. visual-figurative; 3. abstract-logical);
the nature(1. practical; 2. theoretical);
by degree of expansion(1. discursive; 2. intuitive);
by degree of novelty(1. reproductive; 2. productive).

Figurative thinking - carried out on the basis of images, ideas of what a person perceived before. As we understand, these images are retrieved from memory, or they can be recreated by the imagination. And in the course of our mental tasks, these images can be transformed in such a way that, as a result of working on them, we can find answers to new tasks.

That is why the development of figurative thinking is so important in our time. The development of imaginative thinking increases creativity and trains creativity. The difference between creativity and creativity - the essence of creativity is that having certain patterns, a person can come up with new ones from them, and creativity is conceptually new ideas, the ability to generate them.

But it is also worth considering that the development of figurative thinking and perception are completely different directions. Often people combine these concepts. Imaginative thinking deals with existing objects that a person has ever seen, and imagination is the reconstruction of an image from a figurative memory, as well as inventing a completely new one.

The development of imaginative thinking is a difficult but doable task. What can you try? For example, imagine your office in great detail. Is the image bright? Can you imagine other wallpapers now? This is now involved in the imagination in conjunction with figurative thinking. The development of imaginative thinking can be trained.

With constant training, you will then be able to use imaginative thinking in life tasks and goals. For example, apply the visualization of the goal, forming a mental image of yourself in the process and achieving the result.

Figurative thinking is a significant component in all types of human activity. The development of imaginative thinking contributes to the rapid assimilation of new information, memorization and develops the flexibility of thinking.

You may also be interested in books on the direction

Postalovsky I.Z. - Training of figurative thinking- The development of imaginative thinking is one of those fundamental features of the human intellect, to which the 21st century will make special demands. Without a highly developed figurative thinking, it will be impossible to solve many problems of the development of the individual and society. In the proposed manual, an attempt is made to create a systematic course of training and development of imaginative thinking, based on the purposeful and comprehensive training of our receptors, spatial representation and imagination. The course has passed many years of practical testing and showed quite good results.

Hicks Esther and Jerry - Law of Attraction- The development of imaginative thinking contributes to the rapid assimilation of new information, memorization and develops the flexibility of thinking. The authors are sure that, having learned about the operation of the Law of Attraction, we will understand that we create the reality around us with our thoughts! Our imaginative thinking can help this. After reading this book, you can learn how to create life as you wish! Decisiveness, quickness and flexibility of thinking, developed intuition, the ability to overcome internal brakes and fears - this is not a complete list of qualities inherent in a person with a developed imaginative thinking. You can get rid of everything unnecessary, achieve what you dream of, overcome your fears and, finally, understand what you really strive for...

Psychotechnics by direction

Ladder of concepts.

Annotation: Exercise for the development of conceptual thinking.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: art therapy

unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (148)

A look into the future.

Annotation: An exercise in figurative thinking.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: gestalt therapy

Authorship or source of materials: I.Vagin

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (1559)

After 15 years.

Goals: Development of imaginative thinking Self-knowledge Life strategy

Annotation: 35 step from the training "Development of confidence".

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: gestalt therapy

Authorship or source of materials: Nina Rubstein

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (684)

The problem of precious stones.

Objectives: Development of intelligence Development of imaginative thinking

Annotation: Exercise for the development of intelligence and imaginative thinking.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: game therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (1064)

Ribbon problem.

Objectives: Development of intelligence Development of imaginative thinking

Annotation: Exercise for the development of intelligence and thinking.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: game therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (1063)

Images.

Objectives: Visualization Right hemispheric thinking Development of figurative thinking

Annotation: Exercise on images (visual, auditory, bodily, tactile and bodily).

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for adults

Conducted: individually

Approach used: self-regulation

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (62)

Cup.

Annotation: Exercise for the development of intellectual abilities, for the development of creativity.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for preschoolers

Conducted: in a group

Approach used: cognitive psychotherapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (82)

Find something similar.

Objectives: Development of figurative thinking

Annotation: Step 7 of the course on "Correction of Anxiety in a Junior School Student". Goal: Development of motor skills, abstract thinking. Training for the correction of anxiety in junior schoolchildren.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions:

Conducted: in a group

Approach used: art therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (1289)

Application of skills.

Goals: Development of creativity Development of figurative thinking

Annotation: The exercise trains to generate ideas about ways of practical application of the resources available to the participants, increases self-esteem, and also increases the motivation to develop new skills and improve existing ones.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for primary school age

Conducted: in a group

Approach used: game therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (362)

Opposites.

Goals: Development of creativity Development of figurative thinking

Abstract: Training of thinking "from the contrary" - a way to find solutions to problems, in which for a more complete understanding of their essence, their opposite is presented. Development of flexibility in the perception of life situations. Search for non-obvious solutions.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for teenagers and older

Conducted: in a group

Approach used: game therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (360)

Linguistic pyramid.

Objectives: Development of intelligence Development of imaginative thinking

Annotation: An exercise to understand your own thinking patterns, develop skills of generalization, disaggregation and transition by analogy.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for teenagers and older

Held: in pairs

Approach used: reality therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (523)

Find missing words.

Goals: Development of intelligence Development of interest Development of figurative thinking

Annotation: An exercise for the development of figurative thinking.

Sex differentiation: unisex

Age restrictions: for any age

Conducted: individually

Approach used: game therapy

Authorship or source of materials: unknown

The technician contributed to the fund: Administrator (1059)

Smirnova Olga Leonidovna

Neurologist, education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov. Work experience 20 years.

Articles written

A person in his mind constantly creates a model of the world, during which the brain is active and takes on forms called visual-effective or imaginative thinking. Science gives its own explanation for this: this is the main type of human thought processes since the time of primitive society, the peculiarity of which is that it is associated with the solution of practical problems. Thanks to this type of thinking, a person is aware of the need to perform some action, for example, to buy groceries or do exercises.

Everyone has their own picture (or model) of the world. Thanks to the activity of brain cells, a person receives knowledge about the world around him and his existence. He performs practical activities to change reality, using visual-effective thinking.

The thinking ability of a person, developing, goes through three stages, on which the type of thinking depends:

1. Visually effective.
2. Visually figurative.
3. Verbal-logical.

The effective helps to solve the necessary tasks with the help of hands (touching the object): take, move, build, pour out, break, etc. It is especially important for infants and older children (1-3 years) to improve fine motor skills of the fingers. It has a connection with the formation of consciousness. Therefore, the first stage in development is to launch visual-effective thinking.

This type is considered the main one and is actively used by kids. These are movements without the participation of speech, they are performed with the help of actions in relation to objects that are currently in the field of view of the baby.

The type of thinking in different sources has the following definitions: elementary, basic, simplest, lowest. Its signs are noticeable even in animals.

The peculiarity is the close connection of thought processes with the actions performed. The child, repeatedly playing with the same object, gradually reveals its internal characteristics and features. A small person develops skills by acting "in the model." Thus, the object in the hands of the crumbs is a way of knowing the world around.

The process of forming thinking

A child from birth to about three years of age discovers the world by seeing and touching objects around him. Babies are interested in absolutely everything - from mom's eyes to a fluffy cat. But it’s not enough just to see - they need to touch things that are nearby. Thus, with the help of touch, they begin to understand what is wet and what is dry, what is smooth and what is rough.

To understand what kind of object it is, the baby must touch it, often even taste it. So he prepares for mental activity. In the desire to understand the features of a particular toy, the child comes to the conclusion that he is trying to find out how it works, what is inside it. As a result, the toy often breaks. Parents who in such cases scold the child are wrong. In fact, in this action of the baby lies the desire to explore the world, this is the first stage in the development of research activities.

The mental processes that take place in the brain of a small child during this period differ from the same processes in an adult. The main difference is the transition of the child to active actions in an attempt to solve a problem. An adult person first realizes how and what to do.

Examples of visual action thinking: a child wants to get a toy that is in the closet on the top shelf. Due to his small stature, he cannot reach. What is the baby doing? He takes a chair, puts it to the closet, climbs in and takes out a toy. Such actions are typical for a child of 2 - 3 years of age.

Older children (at the age of 5) can form in their minds a preliminary picture of this action, where they predict the result. They “draw” in their imagination what will happen if the chair, for example, staggers. The possible result of the action will make the baby be more careful or call adults. This is visual-figurative thinking.

It is more complex. During the period of its development, the baby imagines what will happen after he performs certain actions. This is a significant stage in the development of human brain activity (especially a preschooler), which is necessary in the process of further education, because to know any science is to be able to think.

The highest form of development of thinking processes is verbal-logical. Its features:

• is based on the basis of language means;
• concepts are used;
• logical constructions are applied;
• characterizes the late stage of development of human thinking.

Verbal-logical thinking is the ability to think with the help of concepts that are expressed in speech. When a baby pronounces a word, a specific object appears in front of his inner eye. For example, at the word "cat" in the representation, exactly the animal that he saw (in a book or at home) appears. Over time, the baby will learn to generalize all objects.

How adults think

Since the process of development of human mental activity begins with visual-effective thinking, there is an opinion that this is irrelevant for adults. But an adult in the course of his life constantly refers to this type of brain activity. In some activities, this skill plays an important role, for example, in construction, mechanics, when carrying out design or construction work. Thinking is necessary here to realize the ability to understand the functioning of complex mechanisms and see what result this will lead to.

To solve a specific problem, an adult performs actions with objects in the desired sequence. Knowing what the hammer is intended for, a person can easily use this tool if necessary.

There is such an expression - manual intelligence. This is knowledge about the purpose of various objects and the ability to manage them. And although an adult person has developed all forms of thinking to one degree or another, for some types of activity, the visual and effective are in the first place.

More often they are possessed by masters of manual labor:

• plumbing;
• mechanical engineers;
• locksmiths;
• painters;
• masons, etc.

But no less important is visual action thinking for scientists and inventors.

In different types of work, you need to be able to use tools, as well as have a deeper knowledge of the nuances of the profession. For example, a carpenter must not only hammer nails, but also calculate:

• places for fastening parts;
• the number of nails;
• board size, etc.

In addition, he must be clear about what will happen as a result.

Thus, in the life of an adult there is no clear distinction between types of thinking. He uses different abilities in different situations. Performing actions, a person presents the result, draws up a plan and logically connects concepts. Depending on the nature of the work and its outcome, one kind of thinking will prevail over others. All of them are interconnected and equally important.