Abstract-logical thinking: features and methods of development

People have the ability to think concretely and generically. With the help of precise thinking, knowledge is used, thanks to which a person understands what is happening around. Abstract logical thinking expands the perception of the world.

With a generalized mental action, a person turns on logic, begins to reason, suppose and draw conclusions. Thus, abstract logical thinking is activated. This type of thinking is the final phase in the process of personality development. It is based on a rational, indirect assimilation of data, where concepts are devoid of the immediate clarity inherent in perception and perceptions.

In psychology, this type of cognitive activity is considered indirect reflection of the common chains observed between phenomena and objects in the world. In other words, this is such a cognitive process in which unknown information is comprehended through already known facts.

Abstract-cognitive activity is associated with numbers, formulas, symbols and abstract concepts that are not captured by the human senses. It is this type of thinking that enables the individual to perceive a holistic picture of reality, without plunging into small details and abstracting from them.

The formation of abstract thinking is closely related to the language system. The meaning of phenomena, objects, abstractions is indicated by specific words.

There is a direct connection between the factors of abstract and logical thinking.Thanks to this relationship, it becomes possible to search for innovative solutions to various problems and adapt to frequently changing living conditions. Analytical, generalizing, idealizing, constructive, primitive-sensual and actual-infinite abstractions are distinguished.

The forms of this type of thinking are concept, judgment, and inference.

• The concept reflects an object, phenomenon or process by means of material and substantiated features.. Sometimes the concept of an object property conveys a single attribute. The main external properties include the relationship of the object with other objects. Internal properties are inherent in the object itself. Examples of the primary and prevailing form of mental abstract display are various words and phrases: rat, tasty gingerbread, security officer. In the human imagination, common signs of these concepts instantly emerge.

• The judgment of a particular subject confirms or denies the presence of any situation, object, phenomenon. Simple and complex narrative statements called judgments reveal the content of concepts. An example of a simple type of judgment: a child draws a giraffe. Sophisticated statements contain 2 or more situations: the bus stopped, and passengers left it.

• Inference involves obtaining a new judgment using the existing one or more premises. The conclusion is drawn from existing judgments: seeds have the ability to sprout, therefore, in spring I will have seedlings. This form of the thought process is the basis of abstract logical thinking. It includes the premise, conclusion and conclusion.

Mental logic operations demonstrate the following features:

• the ability to resort to criteria and concepts that may not exist in reality;
• assessment of events and their comparison;
• systematization of gleaned information;
• generalization of occurring phenomena and objects;
• isolating individual facts;
• combining disparate data into the big picture;
• analysis of information;
• identification of patterns of the environment without explicit contact with it;
• building causal chains.

Using abstract thinking, children draw, construct, sculpt, understand the meaning of riddles, can solve problems, and communicate their thoughts in a coherent way when describing events. In school years, this type of mental activity helps schoolchildren master mathematics, where they need the ability to operate with a variety of data, divide them into groups, and look for a relationship.

Abstract thinking is used in logic, physics, astronomy, and other exact sciences, where one must be able to measure, count, calculate, and combine elements into one group. It is necessary for psychologists, philosophers, writers, engineers. Without it, time management is unthinkable.

In everyday life, people also constantly use abstract logical thinking activity. Examples of abstract thinking reflect the everyday thought process of man. Planning often in imagination intersects with dreams and fantasies. Young people who are in search of a job can think of so much for themselves that, faced with reality, they can’t stand the conditions proposed by him. So the girls in anticipation of the prince on a white horse mentally endow the future chosen one with unrealistic features. This will inevitably lead to frustration in the future.

In children, abstract thinking begins to develop from 4–5 years old. It forms the basis of the learning process. During this period, the ability to establish connections between phenomena is formed. Schoolchildren are most susceptible to mastering logical skills.

The child needs help in mastering the abstraction skills. You can develop them in preschool children with special exercises. Parents who organize different games at home are connected to the process.

• They select a synonym or antonym while throwing the ball to each other. The parent throws the ball with the word “hit”, the child is looking for a synonym: “hit”. You can use any words that are close in meaning: small - tiny, burgundy - cherry, darkness - darkness. Then comes the selection of antonyms: happiness - grief, baby - giant, light - darkness.
• The next task is to complete the sentence.. The child is thrown the ball with the beginning of the phrase: "the crow is croaking." The item returns with the ending: "the chicken cackles."
• Drawing up an associative series well develops children's abstract thinking. Children choose any associations to the proposed word. The chain may look like this: Christmas tree - green - New Year - crocodile - dill - leaf - parrot - forest.
• They offer 10 chains of words, consisting of 4 word forms, among which you need to find an extra word. For example, 3 types of berries and vegetables are offered: strawberries, cranberries, cucumbers, blueberries.
• Organize a shadow theater. The child turns on the imagination at the sight of a shadow produced by hand movements or carved cardboard figures. He must imagine some kind of image and beat him.

A violation of the clarity of the abstract-logical thought process can arise due to the strong contraction and fragmentation of internal speech. She is trained and organized with the help of internal pronunciation. When solving difficult problems it is necessary to achieve accurate mental formulations.

Fulfillment of tasks on revealing patterns and uniting units of speech on the basis of a common attribute, playing checkers, chess develop the abilities of brain activity, improve it and help maintain abstract-logical thinking and memory until old age.

There are exercises for adults.

• You need to choose a consistent statement and then pick up refutations to it. Arguments proving the opposite should be written in columns. Next to each of these propositions is a rebuttal to him. This proves the truth of the first phrase. For example, the initial statement: "Autumn is a wonderful time." The following is the entry: “Pouring lingering cold rains.” And next: "Red and yellow leaves adorn the trees." The more rebuttals found, the better.
• An exercise useful for improving the thought process is associated with deciphering abbreviations invented on the go. It is best to compose them from 3 or 4 letters, and then try to decipher. The funnier and more original the options received, the better. For example, OCHR - the organization of grimy workers, SKSD - the union of crooked old maids.
• It is necessary to select synonyms for abstract concepts and try to explain their meaning in an accessible language. You can think of a specific character expressed in words or in a graphic image. First they work on simple categories, then move on to more complex concepts: “care”, “fun”, “financing”, “inspiration”, “indifference”, “incrimination”.