Abstract Thinking and The Work

[Deleted member 4320]

Abstract thinking - the key to the work on self?

The source of the quotes: "goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/abstract-thinking"

Abstract thinking is the ability to think about objects, principles, and ideas that are not physically present. It is related to symbolic thinking, which uses the substitution of a symbol for an object or idea.

In the ISOTM G. gave the tips how to "self-observe" properly. He start with the fact that everything what we do is mechanical and from such state it is impossible to correctly observe self. In order to breake the mechanical of our behaviour and start observe self the "schock" is need to be created. That "shock" can be a new way counter behaviour, and after that we can observe ourselves thanks to the splitting between the old and new one of behaviour. In the new condition we have possibility to comparing our new way of behaviour with the old and then the old one is really observed and then can be deleted from spectrum of our behaviours.

Next, we stay before problem of making those new ways of behaviour. And then the abstract thinking is coming with help. We need to create some abstract model of our new way of behaviour which we melt with self in further strive.

Back to the article:

A variety of everyday behaviors constitute abstract thinking. These include:

Using metaphors and analogies;
Understanding relationships between verbal and non-verbal ideas;

This is what could be activation of the intelectual part of the emotional center. The metaphoric language and finding the relationships between words and this what the word may mean is mostly depend on work of the intuition.

Spatial reasoning and mentally manipulating and rotating objects;
Complex reasoning, such as using critical thinking, the scientific method, and other approaches to reasoning through problems.

This is what could be activation of the intelectual part of the intelectual center. Reasoning and critical thinking mainly depend on the correct analysis and logic. Also "Escape" from oneself and observe from above contains look on self as the some "object in the space".

How Does Abstract Reasoning Develop?
Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget argued that children develop abstract reasoning skills as part of their last stage of development, known as the formal operational stage. This stage occurs between the ages of 11 and 16. However, the beginnings of abstract reasoning may be present earlier, and gifted children frequently develop abstract reasoning at an earlier age. Some psychologists have argued that the development of abstract reasoning is not a natural developmental stage. Rather, it is the product of culture, experience, and teaching.

Abstract thinking and the work on self have some similiarities, both of them need to be developed through the whole lifetime and requires constant learning and experiencing.

Children’s stories frequently operate on two levels of reasoning: abstract and concrete. The concrete story, for example, might tell of a princess who married Prince Charming, while the abstract version of the story tells of the importance of virtue and working hard. While young children are often incapable of complex abstract reasoning, they frequently recognize the underlying lessons of these stories, indicating some degree of abstract reasoning skills.

"Concrete" might be understanding as the lowest level of the thinking, which have place in the intelectual part of the mechanical center.

Those who we recognize as the psychopaths are able to see the first part of the storie and don't see the abstract part, because of impoverished intelectual and emotional center (or lack of that two).

And at the end, the last part of the article:

Abstract Reasoning and Intelligence
Abstract reasoning is a component of most intelligence tests. Skills such as mental object rotation, mathematics, higher-level language usage, and the application of concepts to particulars all require abstract reasoning skills. Learning disabilities can inhibit the development of abstract reasoning skills. People with severe intellectual disabilities may never develop abstract reasoning skills, and may take abstract concepts such as metaphors and analogies literally.