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The difference between concrete and abstract thinking
- Concrete thinking is closely related to experiences that can be directly observed. It involves everyday, tangible facts and physical objects.
- On the other hand, abstract thinking is a higher-order reasoning skill. It deals with conceptual ideas, patterns, and theories.
Another way to put it is that concrete thinking asks how whereas abstract thinking asks why.
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Three concrete ways to practice abstract thinking
It is possible to improve your abstract reasoning skills.
- Reframe the question. Go from “how?” to “why?” in order to take a step-back and tap into your abstract reasoning skills
- Look for patterns. Instead of looking at each concrete element in isolation, practice networked thinking to uncover abstract patterns and underlying dynamics in the relationship between those elements.
- Take inspiration from abstract thinkers. Philosophers, artists, and scientists are great abstract thinkers.
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A balancing game
As with any powerful tool, abstract thinking can be a double-edged sword.
- First, abstract thinking without concrete thinking amounts to imagination without execution. Once you have figured out why an idea needs to see the light of day, you need to think about how you will make it happen.
- It can also be dangerous for your mental health to always default to abstract thinking, especially when thinking about past events. Psychology researchers explain that “abstract rumination is characteristic of depressed individuals, as is the tendency to experience post-decisional regret.”
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