Dr.

Chintan Shah
MPT (Neurology)
 Defination:
 Thinking is a problem solving process in which
we use ideas or symbols in place of overt
activity.

 Thinking is a cognitive activity.

 It is a process of mental exploration.
 It is goal-oriented.
 Images, concepts, symbols and languages are
used as tools of thinking.
 Types Of Thinking:
1) Perceptual or Concrete thinking
2) Conceptual or Abstract thinking
3) Reflective or Logical thinking
4) Autistic thinking
5) Creative thinking

1) Perceptual or Concrete thinking:

This kind of thinking is the simplest form of learning.
It is based on perception.
It is the process of interpretation of sensation
according to one’s experience
For ex: Children perceiving objects and events
 2) Abstract Thinking:
 It does not require perception of actual objects
or events.
 It is superior to perceptual thinking as it reduces
efforts in understanding and helps in discovery
and inventions.

 3) Logical Thinking:
It is used in problem solving.
There is an insightful approach, which accounts
all the relevant facts before finding solution to
the problem.
 4) Autistic Thinking:
 Some thinking are very private and may use symbol
with very personal meaning. Such thinking is called as
Autistic thinking.
 EX: Dreams are example of autistic thinking.

 5) Creative Thinking:
 It is aimed at creating something new.
 For ex: Thinking of scientists, inventors,
 writers and artists etc.
 It is defined as personel, imaginative thinking which
produces a new, novel and useful solution
 Here, the individual generates an original, unusual and
productive solution to a problem.
 Nature of creative thinking:
 It uses divergent thoughts then the convergent
thoughts.
 Divergent thinking:
 In this variety of thoughts are involved to solve
the problem.
 More than one thoughts are involved.
 Convergent thinking:
 It is concerned with a particular result.
 The thinker gathers information relevant to
the problem and then proceeds by using the
problem solving rules to work out for right
solution
 Steps in creative thinking:
 It was given by Graham Wallace.
 They are:
 1) Preparation
 2) Incubation
 3) Illumination
 4) Evaluation
 5) Revision
1) Preparation:
 The thinker formulates the problem, collects
the facts and materials considered necessary
for new solution.
 So failing to solve the problem , the thinker
either deliberately or involuntarily turns away
from it , initiating stage 2 ie incubation
 Incubation:
 During this period, some of the ideas tend to
fade which are interfering with the solution and
in addition the creative thinkers may have
experience and that also provides clue to the
solution.
 The unconscious thought are also at work
during this process.
 Illumination:
 If the thinker is lucky then the stage 3 will occur
with positive experience as the idea for the
solution suddenly wells up into his
consciousness.

 Evaluation:
 The solution is tested to see if it is satisfying the
problem.
 Revision:
 If the solution is unsatisfactory then the thinker
is back at the beginning of the process.
 If the solution is satisfactory, but the solution
needs some modifications, then the revision
stage is reached.
 Characteristics Of Creative thinking:
 Many creative people are talented in some way
like music or mathematics for instance.
 In other words they have some imp and special
abilities to solve the problems of that field.

 Some of the characteristics are:

 1) They prefer complexity.
 2) They are more independent in their
judgement
 3) They are more self assertive and dominant.
 Other are:
 Sensitivity to people, events and problems.
 Broad knowledge
 Verbal fluency
 High energy level
 Like to take risk
 Independent
 Willing to do something different
 Persistence in task
 Good imagination
 Concepts:
 It is word or idea with general meaning
 Concept are the abstract form of past
experience.
 The development of concepts in human being is
gradual.
 It is only achieved through experience.
Development of Concept:
Originally the concept in the mind of the child is
only in the form of impression but later it helps
the individual to behave in the society.
Ex: Honesty is best policy- it’s a concept but later it
will help the individual to behave with it in the
society.

Concept Formation:
Mental activities plays an important role in the
formation of concept.
• Following steps:
• Comprehensive Perception
• Analysis
• Comparision
• Synthesis
• Naming

• Comprehensive perception:
• Observing more then one individual, objects or
events.
 Analysis:
 Analysis of the things that is perceived

 Comparision:
 Comparision of qualities for similarities and
dissimilarities.

 Synthesis:
 After comparision between the similarities and
dissimilarities, discrimination is done between them,
and generalisation is done for the similar one’s.

 Naming:
 After synthesis each concept gets a name.
 Ex: Humanity, honesty
THANK YOU