Concrete Thinking Definition: Concrete vs. Abstract Thinking

Concrete thinking is a literal form of thinking that involves the physical world rather than analogies, idioms, and deeper inferences. In early cognition, children learn concrete thinking before they learn abstract thinking. For example, they learn to associate voices with certain people, sounds with certain toys, and smells with certain foods.

As children age, more complex, abstract thinking begins to develop. For instance, in reading someone’s body language, a concrete thinker might notice someone has a frowning facial expression and their shoulders close to their ears. Someone applying abstract thinking, on the other hand, might note this person’s physical posture showed a lack of comfort and perhaps depression symptoms.

Abstract thinking is a type of thinking that involves processing theoretical concepts. Abstract thinking skills allow people to exercise creativity, problem-solve, and ruminate over complex problems.

Abstract reasoning develops during childhood and can instill lifelong critical thinking and decision-making skills. Activities such as reading stories, learning new ideas, and understanding “the big picture” all involve abstract thinking. Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget argued young children develop abstract reasoning skills as part of their final stage of cognitive development, beginning around age twelve.

Brain injuries, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health disorders like schizophrenia and dementia can make it more challenging to practice abstract thinking strategies.

Abstract and concrete thinkers take opposite approaches. Abstract reasoning skills center around the intangible—thoughts, ideas, and symbols—to better understand the bigger picture (anthropological, economic, political) behind events and actions. Exercising a different type of thinking, concrete reasoning involves physical objects a person can experience through the five senses—smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight.

In looking at US American realist painter Andrew Wyeth’s masterwork Christina’s World (1948), a concrete way of interpreting the painting would be to note the central woman, her pink dress, and a house in the distance. Abstract thinking abilities would unlock the deeper meanings behind the work: how the tawny colors symbolize loss, how the tableau evokes longing, and how Wyeth’s model for the painting experiences physical impairments, reflecting life’s hardships.

The concrete thinking process involves thinking literally. You might think in a concrete way if:

1. 1. You have difficulty relating to others’ feelings. One sign of concrete thinking is the inability to show empathy to others. You might be a concrete thinker if you lack social skills and it’s challenging to understand social cues and body language.
2. 2. You see only physical attributes. Concrete thinking concerns only that which is physical. If a concrete thinker goes to a furniture store seeking a couch, they would say a sofa is boxy and brown. A more abstract thinker would see how that couch fits in with the rest of a home’s décor and what mood it suggests based on its upholstery and styling.
3. 3. You take idioms literally. Concrete thinking involves literal thinking. People who gravitate toward concrete thinking might find it difficult to understand certain idioms. idioms. For example, if someone uses the idiomatic phrase “turn over a new leaf,” it does not mean you should go outside, find a leaf, and flip it over. The idiom instead means to make a perspective or lifestyle shift to improve yourself.

Concrete thinking helps define key physical attributes. Through concrete thinking, you can associate certain people with specific colors and styles (based on their wardrobe), just as you connect certain bands with particular music types. Taking only these sensory elements into account, however, can be limiting.

In work settings, only discussing the concrete parts of a project will come across as blunt and near-sighted. Abstract thinking expands group dynamics and invites collaboration, creativity, and new perspectives.

For example, a shoe company might make the concrete observation that black shoes sell better in winter and yellow shoes sell better in summer. Abstract thinking goes a step further: snow and precipitation make it easier to sell black shoes in the darker winter months as stains won’t show as easily, whereas the bright and summery months invite shoes that reflect the look of the sun. This abstract observation could help the company invent seasonal lines and color-coordinated styles to influence shoppers’ habits.

The development of abstract thinking starts around adolescence, though you can hone more philosophical concepts in adulthood. Consider the following abstract-thinking strategies:

• Identify patterns. Abstract thinking is about the big picture. If you are solving a problem at work, consider whether you have seen a similar situation in your life. Connecting patterns is a great way to find solutions.
• Pay attention to films. Identify the overall tone through cinematic storytelling details. Each shot in a movie is a carefully rendered tableau rich in color, lighting, and focus. Consider how filmmakers use these tools and techniques to evoke a mood.
• Talk to people. Learning about other people’s perspectives is an excellent way to build empathy and develop abstract thinking skills.
• Use metaphors. Speaking and writing in metaphors and analogies is one way to practice abstract thinking. Figurative language connects concrete objects to abstract concepts.
• Visit a museum. Engrossing yourself in the arts is one great way to become an abstract thinker. Visit a museum and study an artwork’s composition. Start with the concrete or familiar thinking style: consider the colors, the thickness of the brushstrokes, and where light comes from in the painting. Then consider the mood of the painting or its tone. Perhaps the image tells a story; study how all the physical elements at play contribute to the work’s overall sensation.

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