What is visual thinking?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

It has long been known that the concepts of "look" and "see" are only partly synonymous. Experts have proven that for the human brain these are different processes: the first is closer to physiology, the second is associated with consciousness. So, several people can look at the same object, but see it differently. The simplest example is a children's constructor, from which children make up different figures-images. Such a creative ability to see not only with the eyes, but also with the imagination has received an appropriate definition - visual thinking.

What is this?

This is the inborn gift of every human being. However, with age, in some people it becomes aggravated and turns into a profession or way of life, in others, on the contrary, it becomes dull for various reasons. In psychology, visual thinking is considered as a creative way of solving problems based on figurative modeling. We encounter this phenomenon every day and everywhere, from imagining doing work to playing games.chess.

Discovery of Arnheim

The very concept of "visual thinking" belongs to the American psychologist Rudolf Arnheim, who discovered it in the last century. Its essence is most clearly revealed by the example of the scientist himself, when two boys were asked what time it would be in half an hour, if it is now 3:40 on the clock. the first to do the math. By 40 minutes, he added 30. Knowing that there were only 60 minutes in an hour, 10 of the resulting 70 minutes went into the next hour. The result was 4:10. The second boy presented a round dial, where half an hour is half a circle. He mentally moved the arrow and got the same result as his predecessor.

Thus, the first boy solved the problem intellectually, using numbers and mathematical knowledge, and the second - visually. The important point here is that in the latter case, not illustrations for thoughts were used, but the very manifestation of thinking was activated.

Exploring the specifics of such a process, Arnheim clearly separated visual thinking from the usual means of visualization (pictures, objects). Their difference lies, according to the scientist, in the very nature of phenomena. So, the first is not a passive object-image, but a product of the specific activity of the mind, a translator from the language of the image to the language of understanding, action and connection of this image with other objects. It was from this position that mnemonics arose - memorization based on visual thinking.

Scientific development

The theory of the specifics of thinking, proposed by an American psychologist, has been continued in many studies of modernspecialists and became the basis for the development of training methods and the development of mental abilities. A large number of such works are devoted to the problems of teaching at school. After all, the same information is acquired by children in different ways. Therefore, one of the tasks of teachers is to teach the child to think visually. In this case, there is not just a dry and senseless memorization of rules and texts, but the formation of their connection with the surrounding reality, the simultaneous correlation of theory with practice. Memorization based on visual thinking is an effective technique for training memory and developing the mental and creative abilities of a child.

Workout

As you can see, thinking visually is not a superpower. This process is easy to train and improve, for which a lot of techniques and methods have been created. The simplest person receives, of course, at school, absorbing the basics of mnemonics. For example, when consonant Russian words-associations are used to memorize foreign words. Or, to retell complex texts, pictures with key events of the narrative are used. Each object has its own system of images-associations that help to assimilate information.

In visual thinking, an important role is assigned to the imagination. The first intuitive attempts in its formation are made in childhood, when children, lying on the grass, try to “decipher” fancy clouds. Imagination helps to open the deep compartments of the brain and pull out of them, as it seems at firstlook, illogical and unexpected solutions.

Where can I learn visual thinking?

Today it is not a science or a complex field of knowledge. In many countries, special trainings and seminars are held, where a person can get acquainted with the basic techniques, get practical lessons, exchange experiences and achievements with other participants. However, some people resort to self-study. For this, there are many thematic literature, manuals, audio courses.

How long will it take?

The question of time largely depends on the age and aspirations of the person himself. However, it takes literally minutes to master elementary techniques, the rest is a matter of frequency of practice.

Experts recommend applying visual thinking methods as early as preschool age. However, the purposefulness of this process should be taken into account. At an early age, it is used for high-quality assimilation and use of information, in an adult, the requirements increase and apply not only to cognitive activity.

Roem Technique

In 2011, the book “How to “sell” your ideas with the help of drawings” was published. The work belongs to Dan Roam - the largest modern specialist in the field of visual thinking. Today he runs a successful consulting company that helps solve business problems with simple pictures.

The author of the technique considers visual thinking as a natur althe ability of a person to see mentally, thereby discovering ideas within himself that may go unnoticed and unrealized. This ability helps not only to see them, but also to develop and convey to other people, that is, to popularize.

Target

Dan Roem uses visual thinking as a tool to solve absolutely any problem. To do this, in his opinion, you just need to depict (draw) an exciting question using the natural gifts of nature: eyes, hands and imagination. At the same time, you should ask yourself general questions: “Who / what?”, “Where / when?” and “Why/why?” Such a drawing for a person becomes a kind of “evacuation plan” or a strategy that allows you to rise above the situation and quickly find the safest way out of it, or, on the contrary, find a short and successful path to the goal. Thus, a person gradually learns to find and filter information, imagine, supplement and explain it.

It is noteworthy that in mastering the technique, the ability to draw well is not necessary. To depict the situation, a schematic picture is enough. The main thing is mental visualization.

Sheremetyev's view

A similar issue of successful problem solving was solved by the Russian scientist Konstantin Sheremetiev, who has been studying intelligence for many years. He developed a special course on training a certain set of thinking tools (sights) that allow a person to creatively approach any life task.

The author represents intelligence (orbrain) is like a labyrinth with many doors. When a person makes a choice, makes an important decision, he uses the usual logical thinking. However, this path does not always lead to success. In this case, there is an alternative option - visual thinking. Sheremetyev calls it the fastest, since a person receives 90% of information through vision.

The author's technique is also aimed at training memory - quick memorization with the help of visual images. Also, in the process of studying, a person acquires the skills to perceive and structure a huge flow of information.

The Benefits of Visual Thinking

Among the possibilities provided by visual thinking, the main ones are:

• The ability to see the situation as a whole, which allows a person to quickly make the right decision.
• The ability to keep a lot of information in mind, while analyzing and structuring it for further use.
• The ability to see the essence of the problem, to filter unnecessary data.
• Visual thinking is an effective way of understanding the world around us.

The advantages include the versatility of this type of mental process. So, Roem recommends using visual thinking in any situation: commercial, domestic, educational, creative, etc. Moreover, visualization techniques save a lot of time and energy, making the selection process entertaining and enjoyable.

Practical application

The practice of visual thinking is subject to every conscious personage. It is especially popular with people who generate ideas. After all, words are not always enough.

Currently, computer presentations are increasingly used in the educational and business process. They help to see what is not yet there, and "revive" in the mind the information communicated verbally. From this perspective, frequent users of visual thinking are:

• Company leaders. A responsible position requires a responsible approach. Visual thinking in this case helps to find the right and original solutions, quickly make a choice.
• Top managers and business consultants. People of these professions need to process a large amount of information, respond correctly to any changes, work energetically, quickly, offering unique solutions.
• Athletes. Football players, chess players, and anyone with a need for strategy often use visual thinking to predict the game.
• Architects and designers. For people in these professions, visual thinking is the most important tool, the work of which simply does not need to be talked about.
• Teachers and lecturers. So that lectures and trainings do not turn into a dry stream of words, these specialists often use visual aids. But these are not just colorful pictures, but meaningful visualizers that form certain information links.
• Psychologists. Of course, the psychological method cannot be ignored by the specialists themselves. Very often, when consulting a patient, a psychologist mentally askspresent a problem, that is, create an association. It can be an image of a person or an animal, or just an object. Depending on this, a logical chain of causes and effects is built, helping to penetrate the essence of the problem and find its solution.

Results

Invaluable impact on child development. Visual thinking, according to teachers, along with logical thinking, should be active in the process of learning and understanding the world, since the use of visual materials in the classroom helps to increase the level of knowledge. This method greatly facilitates the work, focuses the attention of students on the subject, maintains interest. Learning ceases to be "blind" memorization, but turns into an exciting immersion in the subject and the rapid assimilation of information.

As for the business sector, Roy calls visual thinking the main tool for creating ideas for a reason. Thanks to simple schemes and drawing the situation, any problems are solved quickly and sometimes unexpectedly easily. In addition, this approach helps to simplify the task as much as possible, clearly state it and convey it to the audience. Thus, the team begins to think and act in a single direction, without conflicts and awkward moments of misunderstanding.