What Is Concrete Thinking And Abstract Thinking

For example a concrete thinker would look at a green tree and say that it is a green tree.

What is concrete thinking and abstract thinking. Abstract and concrete thinking are two different ways of looking at the same thing. The introduction of more abstract concepts is what facilitates the development of abstract thinking. Likewise when an abstract thinker looks at the same tree hisher thought process would be entirely different. Concrete thinking is the primary thinking process that we are born with.

While abstract thinking pays attention to the hidden meaning which cannot be grasped by a lay person concrete thinking denotes a different meaning. An abstract thinker in contrast would understand that the figure of speech means that people who have faults of their own should not criticize others. For example a concrete thinker would interpret people who live in glass houses should not throw stones to refer literally to breakable panes of glass. On the other hand abstract thinking goes under the surface.

It just refers to thinking in the periphery. Concrete thinking is sometimes described in terms of its opposite. This is the ability to consider concepts make generalizations and think philosophically. Concrete thinking refers to the thinking on the surface whereas abstract thinking is related to thinking in depth.

The development of abstract thinking comes later in life as we are introduced to more abstract concepts and learn to recognize the difference in concrete and abstract ideas.