Question

Explain the core elements of thinking.

Answer the following question with the help of the given points:

Explain the core elements of thinking.

1. Mental representation
2. Concept
3. Schema
4. Language

Answer 1

“Thinking is the mental activity that uses various cognitive elements and processes that involve manipulation of information, problem solving, reasoning as well as decision making.” While thinking, we create a world within us, and we run through various actions symbolically rather than in reality.  The core elements in thinking are:

1. Mental representation: It is a coded internal sensation acquired by direct experiences through the sense organs or by indirect experiences such as narrations, pictures, etc. Mental representation is the mental imagery with the help of which the brain codes and stores the information. It is like a hypothetical internal cognitive symbol used by the brain to represent external reality.
   For example: A child is asked to imagine a peacock. The visual image of a peacock with its colourful plumage immediately comes to mind. This refers to the “mental imagery” of an object.
2. Concepts: They form the basis for all cognitive processes, acting as building blocks by connecting with each other to form more complex concepts. Concepts involve the extraction of some 'idea' on the basis of similarities and differences among the sensations. A concept is an idea that represents a class of objects, situations, etc which differentiates it from other classes of objects, situations, etc.,
   For example: A child forms a mental image of a 'dog'. He derives an idea of something similar in all examples of 'dog' that he has seen, i.e. tail, fur, barking, etc. Thus, he has formed the concept of a dog. If he mistakenly identifies a cat as a dog, he is corrected by others. So he tries to compare the mental images of dogs and cats. He has now learnt and refined two concepts, viz. dog and cat.
3. Schema: A schema is “an internal representation that organises knowledge about related concepts and relationships among them". Schemata influence most of the cognitive processes.
   For example: When a child visits a ‘zoo’ for the first time, images and concepts such as different animals, caves/cages, etc., are activated in the brain simultaneously. Thus, he is forming the schema of ‘zoo’
4. Language: Language is a system of symbols. Mental representations, concepts and schemata are all better represented by language.
   For example: The word 'cat' stands for an actual cat, so the word ‘cat’ is a symbol for a cat. Thinking by using language is a distinctive feature of human beings’ thinking process.