Abstract Thinking vs Concrete Thinking
Abstract thinking and concrete thinking are two variations of thinking, where a number of differences can be identified between them. Simply while some people think in a particular way, others think in a different way. These differences and variations in thinking styles are all natural and God-gifted. One can, however, change the way they think. They can even change their beliefs at one point if some other thinking has completely taken over and convinced the former manner of thinking. In any case, we all are born and bred with a certain mindset which leads us to become either of the concrete thinkers or abstract thinkers. Both terms are different from each other and show how different people have a specific view of looking at things and perceiving them according to their thinking skills and analytical abilities. It is evident that every one of us can be differentiated and categorized, based on how we look at things and depict the meaning out of them. There are situations where one cannot really say what a concrete thinker might be thinking in contrast to that of an abstract thinker. It is vital to elucidate the terms separately and identify the differences, to gain a deeper understanding of both concepts in a proper manner.
What is Abstract Thinking?
First, abstract thinking can be explained as the manner of thinking in which concentration is on conceptualization or generalization of a certain thing. An abstract thinker can view a particular phenomenon from an angle that others might not be able to view. Abstract thinking involves a much deeper, wider and a multitude of meanings of a single concept or idea which can arouse other issues that were never seen or discussed before. Abstract thinking also involves various options or solutions to a single problem. For an average, normal person, this may be very confusing and almost incomprehensive. Abstract thinking goes beyond all the visible and present things and depicts hidden meanings and underlying purposes of anything that’s existing and is a part of nature.
What is Concrete Thinking?
Concrete thinking, on the other hand, is very concrete and definite as the name suggests. It involves only those things which are visible to the human eye and are obvious enough for anybody who is looking at them. Concrete thinking will only consider, depend and emphasize on the literal meaning of anything, any idea or concept. It does not appreciate those ideas that rely on the factor of probability. Concrete thinking involves only those words or events which hold a face value and can be recorded, quoted or provide some evidence at least. The difference between the two terms can be summarized in the following manner. Abstract and Concrete thinking are two different ways of looking at the same thing. While abstract thinking pays attention to the hidden meaning which cannot be grasped by a lay person, concrete thinking denotes a different meaning. It is always literal, to-the-point and very direct, allowing any individual to observe and understand. Also, it is important to notice that both terms seem different and to some extent opposite of each other, yet both have to do with the two different sides of our brain. This means that there has to be a fair balance between the two and we should be able to think in both terms as and when need arises. This is essential because sometimes we need to take things, just the way they are coming to us. But there are other times when people are expecting of us to be a bit more analytic and take things in a way they don’t seem to be, but are actually are.
What is the Difference Between Abstract Thinking and Concrete Thinking?
- Abstract thinking involves an emphasis on the hidden or the intended meaning whereas concrete thinking is always literal, to-the-point and very direct.
- Abstract thinking requires much more analysis and goes deeper whereas concrete thinking remains on the surface.
- Abstract thinking and concrete thinking stand in opposition, allowing the individual to gain two different perspectives.
Image Courtesy:
1.Brain-484539_640 [Public Domain], via Pixabay
2.”Kugleramme” [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons
You are close but no cigar. :-). I just said 2 things that are close in meaning and are both abstract in structure and figurative in meaning but use concrete objects to imply meaning. Just to share and give the author credit, it was extremely difficult to use the words I used accurately. First, and I don’t have time for everything; “Abstract and concrete are not 2 different ways of looking at something. Rather, something’s may have both a concrete meaning and an abstract meaning and neither the author nor the reader may be aware of that. It has nothing to do with the intention of the author but rather. the quality of the subject. I used to work as a Registered Nurse on psychiatric units in hospitals plus have the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in course work but not that degree. I have had a patient or 2, not many, who had a psychiatric illness where they literally and physically “tore’ the hair right out of their scalp. This type of patient sometimes also had a difficulty during their adolescent cognitive development where they never developed the ability to understand or even be aware of the abstract qualities of some things. They also like many of us, had many frustrations. There is a figure of speech, “I am so frustrated I want to tear the hair out of my head.!” If a person had both of these types of cognitive difficulties they would not have been able to have the “intention” to say both the concrete, literal intention and the abstract, non physical meaning. That was so hard and took so long to give a precise meaning and comparison that it is the only one I can do.
This is Albert. Ahmad, I am extremely sorry. I accidently because of the lateness of the hour and my extreme tiredness (You, of course realize I take no personal responsibility for my mistake. This is true but I hope funny. I accidently cut off about 3/4 of my comment to you and did not do you the justice you deserved. I will try to get back to this tomorrow at an earlier time and comment in a way that gives justice to your hard work and good thinking.
Ahmad I am so sorry. it is 230 AM at my house and I still have no time to get back to you. I will not give up though. If you want to ask me another question it will ensure me being notified to get back to you. Please excuse my business. You ask a question that is close to my heart because I love English. Because it has so many words and those words can be used so many ways with many nuances it means that increased details can be communicated. I flash of lightening in my brain. One of the books I used to have but want to try to get again is a Readers Digest book. “Use the Right Word” that has subtleties of meanings between similar words. Blessings to you my honored acquaintance.
Dear Ahmad, it is 0230Am but I am not tired and maybe I can finish explaining about concrete and abstract thinking. The person who wrote the article is extremely ignorant. I worked a s a Registered Nurse for 20 years on psychiatric units in hospitals. I have the equilivant course work of a person who has a Masters Degree in counseling. In an Adolescent psychology course I took in Developmental Psychology it was explained that a persons last stage in cognitive development (Piagets theory of cognitive development) was the stage where they developed the ability to think on an abstract level. This stage of cognitive (brain or mind) occurs between the ages of 14 and 19. Most people develop the ability to think on an abstract level but some to a greater degree than others. Some people never develop the ability to think on an abstract level and are said to be “concrete” but these are a minority of people.
There is a series of questions on a mini mental status exam we often uwsed to assess a new patients ability to think on an abstract level and it might be helpful to understand the difference between the ability to understand abstract things versus concrete things. One of the questions was for the patient to give the answer to the question, What does the parable, “A stitch in time saves 9”. this parable is a saying from sewing and has a concrete answer and a generalized or abstract answer. The saying comes from the situation where a seam in a piece of clothing starts to come undone but only 1 stitch has come undone or unraveled. If a person sews the seam to repair it in the beginning where only 1 stitch has unraveled it may be that only 1 stitch of thread is needed to repair the seam. One of the things about sewing and seams as well as other things related to clothing and sewing is that once a seam starts to unravel and become undone, if no repair is made the seam will continue to unravel. On a concrete level the saying, “A stitch in time saves 9”, means that if you repair the seam “in time” or in the beginning, you may only need 1 stitch to repair the seam but if you let it go and the seam continues to unravel you may need to sew 9 stitches to repair the seam. Therefore a “stitch in time saves 9.” Obviously you have to know something about sewing to understand this parable but I am only using it as an example.
A person who has not developed the ability to think and understand things that are abstract will never be able to understand this parable except on an a concrete level. On an abstract level this parable has a more general meaning, That is that almost any repair or any job is less work and requires less finances or whatever to be successful if you work hard and learn the fundamentals of something before you try to understand the more complex aspects of whatever the task is. Also, in human social relationships if a trouble between 2 people is clarified and resolved while the angry or hurt feelings are minor, it will be easier to resolve the problem and return to a friendly and harmonious relationship.
I tried to do a Bing search on differences between Concrete and abstract thinking and it almost seems as the person who wrote this article did the same thing and copied the information for the article but tried to use his own words and got most things wrong. Then I typed in “Jean Piaget” on the Bing browser and got better information. I hope my examples regarding abstract and concrete thinking were at least a little helpful to you. It is important to know the difference between the concrete aspects of things and the abstract aspects of things as it relates to Jesus teaching’s in the Bible. Some people complain that people called “Fundamentalists take Jesus teachings in a too concrete way when they think He is speaking on an abstract level. I am Catholic and I had a P4riest tell me that about 1 of Jesus teachings. The teaching was Jesus saying that if your arm causes you to sin, it is better to take off the arm and go to Heaven than to keep the arm and go to Hell.” The Priest said Jesus meant that on an abstract level and that He was referring to the case that if a person has a trouble with going to bars and getting in trouble there, like if he meets women who are not his wife, goes out with her, has sex with her and commits adultery. I agreed with the Priest but said it was also true on a concrete level. Usually, a person’s arm can not cause him to sin but suppose it could. If that was the case it would be true that it was better to cut off the arm and go to Heaven than to keep the arm and go to Hell.
I hope what I have written has been helpful to you. You can always contact me at any time on Disqus and ask me anything you want to. Please get back to me and let me know if anything I have written has been helpful to you.