Different Kinds of Thinking
Today we discussed the different ways people think. Most people have a certain way they think and learn, whether it be visually, verbally, or in patterns. It is vitally important for teachers and therapists to understand and recognize these different kinds of thinking so that we can support the child’s needs and foster their abilities, rather than training them to think differently.
Temple Grandin is a world renowned author and advocate for those with Autism. She has her Ph.D in Animal Sciences and is a professor at Colorado State University, and she is diagnosed with Autism. I highly recommend reading her article “Thinking In Pictures” where she talks about her style of thinking, how she came to understand it, and how she now uses it to her benefit. In her article, she outlines the 3 types of thinking in the specialized brains of those with autism.
- Visual thinkers, like me, think in photographically specific images. There are degrees of specificity of visual thinking. I can test run a machine in my head with full motion. Interviews with nonautistic visual thinkers indicated that they can only visualize still images. These images may range in specificity from images of specific places to more vague conceptual images. Learning algebra was impossible and a foreign language was difficult. Highly specific visual thinkers should skip algebra and study more visual forms of math such as trigonometry or geometry. Children who are visual thinkers will often be good at drawing, other arts, and building things with building toys such as Lego’s. Many children who are visual thinkers like maps, flags, and photographs. Visual thinkers are well suited to jobs in drafting, graphic design, training animals, auto mechanics, jewelry making, construction, and factory automation.
- Music and math thinkers think in patterns. These people often excel at math, chess, and computer programming. Some of these individuals have explained to me that they see patterns and relationships between patterns and numbers instead of photographic images. As children they may play music by ear and be interested in music. Music and math minds often have careers in computer programming, chemistry, statistics, engineering, music, and physics. Written language is not required for pattern thinking. The pre-literate Incas used complex bundles of knotted cords to keep track of taxes, labor, and trading among a thousand people.
- Verbal logic thinkers think in word details. They often love history, foreign languages, weather statistics, and stock market reports. As children they often have a vast knowledge of sports scores. They are not visual thinkers and they are often poor at drawing. Children with speech delays are more likely to become visual or music and math thinkers. Many of these individuals had no speech delays, and they became word specialists. These individuals have found successful careers in language translation, journalism, accounting, speech therapy, special education, library work, or financial analysis.
You can read the full article here: http://www.grandin.com/inc/visual.thinking.html
I also recommend watching her TedTalk about different kinds of thinking and how individuals with highly specialized ways of thinking should be encouraged to pursue their abilities rather than being held back because of the unique way they think and learn.
[ted id=773]
While it is extremely important for us to teach children useful, everyday skills, as well as functional social skills, the first step in reaching a child with special needs is recognizing how they process, retain, and express information. Once we are able to identify that, we can work with them to adjust how they cope with difficult situations, teach them how to express their thoughts and emotions, and help them become independent individuals.
It is an interesting exercise to take some time to identify how YOU think and learn and how it effects your daily life! Give it a try!
Til next time,
Toby
