Abstract thinking

about abstract thinking

1. ABSTRACT THINKING PRESENTED BY-MRS.NAMITA SHIRLY LAL

2. INTRODUCTION Abstract Thought OR Abstract thinking is the ability to deal with concepts. Abstract thinking characterized by-  To assume mental set voluntarily  To shift voluntarily from one aspect of a situation to another.  To keep in mind simultaneously various aspect of situation.  To group the essentials of a whole and to break a whole into parts.  To abstract common properties.  To plan ahead.  To assume make believe attitude and took think or act symbolically.

3. Abstract thinking is the ability to think about objects, principles, and ideas that are not physically present. It is related to symbolic thinking, which uses the substitution of a symbol for an object or idea.

4. 3. Abstract Thought  Patients can have disturbances in the manner in which they conceptualize or handle ideas.  Can the patient explain similarities, such as those between an apple and a pear or between truth and beauty?  Concrete thinking or Literal thinking – limited use of metaphor without understanding nuances. 4. Abstract Thought  The appropriateness of answers and the manner in which they are given should be noted.  In a catastrophic reaction, brain-damaged patients become extremely emotional and cannot think abstractly.

5. 5. Abstract Thought  Methods to test abstract thinking are 1. Proverb Test 2. Dis-similarities and similarities 3. Conceptual Series Completion 1. Proverb Test- Should be based on socio-cultural and educational background. At least 3 proverbs should be given, read each proverb as written, do not paraphrase. Concrete response or absence of any abstract response should suggest an impairment of abstract ability.  Eg. एक हाथ से ताली नहीीं बजती,  जो गरजते हैं वो बरसते नहीीं .  ऊँ ट के मींह में जीरा,  अधजल गगरी छलकत जाय.  भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना,  दूध का जल छाछ को भी फूीं क – फूीं क कर पीता है,  दूर के ढोल सहावने लगते हैं,  हर चमकने वाली चीज सोना नहीीं होती .

6. 6.Similarities- In verbal similarities test the patient should explain basic similarity two overtly different objects or situations and it requires analysis of relationship, formation of verbal concepts and logical thinking.  Eg - Please tell me how they are similar or like-  Potato – cauliflower  Scoring-  2points = vegetables  1point = Food, they grow in the ground, edible.  0point = Buy in the market.  Cow – Goat

7. 7. Conceptual Series Completion – “I am going to show you some numbers, letters or words in series. Each series will be incomplete and needs an additional word, letter or number to complete it each dash(- ) calls for that missing number or word or letter”  Eg.  ABCD…… correct response- E  1, 4, 7, 10, - 13  AZ, BY, CX, D… W  Autistic thinking- preoccupation with inner thoughts daydreams, private logic, egocentric, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and connection with external reality.  Dereistic thinking- thinking not in accordance with facts of reality and experience and following illogical, idiosyntractic reasoning. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

8. 9. Intelligence According to Wechsler,(1981) - ‘‘Intelligence is a global term that denotes the the relative capacity of the child to think rationally, act purposefully and to deal effectively with environment.”  According DSM-5 intellectual functions are – Planning, Reasoning, Abstract thinking, Judgment, Academic learning, Problem solving, Learning from experience.  All above intellectual functions are included in definition of Intellectual Disability (mental retardation) in DSM-5.  It is calculated by IQ assessment. IQ = Mental age/ Chronological age.  There are many tests eg. WAIS, VAIS, Bhatia battery test, Raven’s progressive matrices etc … This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

9. According to Jean Piaget there are 4 Stages Cognitive Development Sensorimotor Stage (Birth to 2 Years) II. Stage of Preoperational Thought (2 to 7 Years) III. Stage of Concrete Operations (7 to 11 Years) IV. Stage of Formal Operations (11 through the End of Adolescence)  The stage of formal operations is so named because young persons' thinking operates in a formal, highly logical, systematic, and symbolic manner. This stage is characterized by the ability to think abstractly, to reason deductively, and to define concepts.

10. 10. Judgment  Judgment refers to the person's capacity to make good decisions and act on them.  The level of judgment may or may not correlate to the level of insight.  A patient may have no insight into their illness but have good judgment.  It has been traditional to use hypothetical examples to test judgment.  For example, “What would you do if you found a stamped envelope on the sidewalk?” It is better to use real situations from the patient's own experience to test judgment.