Development of thinking. The best ways to develop logical thinking for adults and children


The development of logical thinking helps improve a person’s ability to reason and think consistently and consistently. Read further about the development of logical thinking.

Logical thinking and logic

Logic is the science of the forms, methods and rules of mental cognitive activity.

People need logic in almost all life situations: from a simple conversation with an opponent, choosing goods in a store, to solving complex technical or information problems.

Thinking helps to find justification certain phenomena. Logic helps to meaningfully evaluate the world around us and competently structure speech and judgments.

5 Features of Logical Thinking


The science of logic studies methods of achieving truth that exclude sensory experience, and are based on the process of studying and cognition of surrounding things on the knowledge that was previously obtained.

There are interesting distinctive features and features of the development of logical thinking:

Empirical knowledge

The basis for logical laws is empirical knowledge. Specific person formed the situation, witnessed the incident, saw its consequences and made his own conclusions and conclusions. The laws of logic are formed experimentally.

Acquired, not congenital

Logic and logical thinking is an acquired, not an innate quality of people. A person studies and develops them throughout his entire life.

Striving for comfort

People sometimes unconsciously do not want to develop their thinking and make competent logical conclusions, trying to think in a way that is more comfortable and simpler.

Cynical calculation

Logical inference and thinking can become a tool for committing inhumane acts.

The world that surrounds people has two opposite sides: good and evil, positive and negative.

Therefore, logic, despite all the benefits it brings to a person, can bring a lot of harm.

Cynical calculation and logic put such concepts as “self-sacrifice” and “love for one’s neighbor” in the background.

Scientificity

Science has some axioms. Deviation from them is a sign of mental disorder.

6 main axioms of logic


The development and improvement of logical thinking is impossible without knowledge of logical axioms, which are the basis of a person’s worldview:

Irreversibility of time

From childhood, people become familiar with the concepts of “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” and “today.” That is, they begin to realize the difference between the past and the future.

Investigative connections, their sequence

The impossibility of the existence of the same facts in a certain period of time: with a positive temperature conditions water cannot freeze, and a woman expecting a child cannot become pregnant.

Deduction

The deductive method of thinking is based on logical laws and leads from the general to the specific: passed heavy rain, the trees became wet. The deduction method gives a 99.99% true answer.

Induction

This method of inference leads from the general to the specific and is based on similar properties various items and objects: trees, road and cars are wet - it’s raining. The inductive method has 90% accuracy, since trees and other objects can become wet not only because of rain.

Sequence of actions

If a person performs several sequential actions in stages, then he receives the expected and satisfactory result.

Man is an illogical creature

Conclusions very often run counter to morality and ethics, and in some cases, to the law.

After all, maniacs and people with mental disorders believe that when they kill and carry out violent acts, they act logically.

The unnatural formation of logical thinking from childhood in the conditions of military operations and extreme situations later provokes people to commit terrible deeds from a humanitarian point of view.

Science is not perfect, so real life logic may yield to truth. A striking example is a situation when a woman makes what she thinks is a logical conclusion: a man doesn’t call, he acts aloof, which means he doesn’t like me.

As practice shows, in 85% of cases, indifference on the part of the opposite sex is a sign of interest in the formation and development of relationships. And the errors of the inductive method are to blame for the woman’s conclusion.

Functions of logical thinking

The main task of science is to obtain true knowledge about the subject of reflection, based on reasoning and analysis of various aspects of the phenomenon and situation under consideration.

Logic is the basic tool used in every science known today.

  1. examine statements and draw other conclusions from them;
  2. learn to think intelligently, which will help in self-realization and achieving goals.

How to develop logical thinking

People striving for inner harmony, success and well-being in the main areas of life are set in a completely natural and current issue: how to develop logical thinking?

Every person has it to a certain extent. But for the optimal and best understanding of reality and gaining the ability to use it in certain situations, you must be able to think quickly and competently logically. How can you learn this?

Brain training

It is necessary to regularly train your brain, without being lazy or procrastinating.

Many people mistakenly assume that people are born with a preliminary specific mental potential, and therefore cannot become smarter, wiser or stupider than what is inherent in genes and nature.

This statement is incorrect, since any person, by regularly training his thinking, develops until the end of his life.

An effective method of self-improvement is constant mental exercise.

  • It is recommended in your free time to solve any logic problems created for both children and adults. It is necessary to solve puzzles. Do not neglect simple riddles like “find the differences”.
  • It is necessary to take IQ tests regularly. The result is not very important, the main thing is the process during which the development of thinking and mental abilities occurs.
  • Should be played logic games with friends or acquaintances: chess, backgammon and other types.
  • It is recommended to engage in self-education and study of science.
  • You need to learn to argue based on facts and justify your conclusions.
  • You need to get into the habit of reading good detective stories.
  • Experts say that intuition plays a big role in the development of logic. As paradoxical as it sounds, a person needs to learn to trust her. After all, intuition is the result of inferences made at a subconscious level, when people unconsciously draw conclusions from information that was once received by the brain.

3 exercises to develop logical thinking

Collective exercises for logical thinking are very effective:

Coding of famous phrases, song verses and proverbs

A group of people is divided into two companies. Each of them invites their rivals to solve a semantic riddle that betrays the content of the text.

Example: The church minister owned living creature. Despite great feelings and affection for him, the man committed violent acts against biological species, which led to the death of the latter. The reason for this behavior was that a living creature consumed a piece of animal product that was not intended for it. The algorithm of such actions is endless.

Answer: “The priest had a dog...”

Arguments and reasons

One person from the team begins to look for the reasons for a particular action of someone, then the reasons for the reasons, and so on until the arguments for the behavior are clarified.

Remove unnecessary things

It is very useful to perform exercises where you need to remove the unnecessary from a set of words, numbers or pictures, based on logical thinking.

Example: chair, wardrobe, stool, pouf.

Answer: closet.

You can train your thinking with this exercise yourself, resorting to thematic games in social networks, or in a team, where each team independently comes up with tasks for opponents.

Exercises for the development of logical thinking will help any person in personal growth, self-affirmation and resolving controversial life issues.

The parent's desire for the child to receive a quality education. Particular worries are felt by those whose families raise children with developmental disabilities (developmental disabilities, developmental disabilities, hearing impairment, etc.). Parents are confident that an indicator of a child’s readiness for school is the ability to read and count.

Therefore, they devote all their efforts to developing these skills. Mothers proudly demonstrate the achievements of a baby who has barely reached the age of 3 years. Centers early development To please clients, they teach children from 2 years old to read, count and write, missing out on significant aspects of development.

However, this common myth is easy to challenge. Often children with intellectual disabilities early age They can easily name and show numbers and letters. However, it is difficult to teach them to read; they are unable to count the required number of objects, since their thinking is not formed.

Such children cannot conduct analysis, form conclusions, or maintain attention for a long time. The teacher has to control them, repeatedly explain the material, and help them complete assignments. The reason lies in the immaturity of mental processes. That is why the primary task for parents is to develop their children’s thinking, logic, memory and attention.

Features of memory development in children

Mental functions are interconnected. It happens that in a person some processes function successfully, while others fail. For example, with extraordinary memory, his logic lags behind. At the same time, when memorization mechanisms are disrupted, logical thinking is automatically inhibited, since a person needs a stock of knowledge for mental processes. This phenomenon is clearly observed in children with mental retardation.

Memorization is one of the central factors determining the intellectual development of an individual. Classifying memory types, we highlight:

  • visual-figurative - thanks to it people remember faces, objects, sounds;
  • verbal-logical – helps to master formulas and terminology;
  • emotional – preserves experienced feelings;
  • visual, auditory, etc. - according to the predominant analyzer (people have better visual perception, but information is remembered worse by hearing);
  • short-term (predominant in children) and long-term.

From the age of 4, preschoolers develop voluntary memorization mechanisms; they are already able to force themselves to assimilate information.

If previously the visual-figurative type of memory predominated in them, then at school the verbal-logical type is activated. Therefore, developing thinking, attention and memory in 7-year-old children, we can offer tasks for classification, searching for unnecessary objects and patterns, riddles, joke problems, etc.

Activities that influence memory development in children

Parents, regularly focusing the baby’s attention on natural phenomena, surrounding objects help improve long-term memory. By purposefully encouraging the baby to reproduce accumulated experience, we develop voluntary memory. For these purposes, it is recommended to introduce the child to new games, teach him to retell fairy tales, recite poems, and compose his own stories.

The improvement of mental processes and the correction of certain disorders is influenced by the development of fine motor skills. Therefore, manual activities are important for children: sewing, knitting, cutting, modeling, finger gymnastics. You can invite your child to put together puzzles, build a house out of blocks, or play in the sandbox.

Variations of the same exercise will develop different types memory:

  • Write one random word on each of the 10 cards. Allow the participant to review the contents of the cards for 30 seconds, and then ask the participant to name what he remembers. This exercise is aimed at training visual memory.
  • If words are read to adults and the player perceives them by ear, then auditory memorization develops. This exercise is useful for children with TD.
  • If you place images on cards, then in addition to visual memory, figurative memory is also used.
  • Motor memory develops when the student first writes down (draws) the proposed words and then reproduces them without looking at the piece of paper.

Difficulties in remembering in children with mental retardation, speech impairment, and hearing impairment

Special attention deserves the development of memory in children with developmental disabilities: mental retardation, speech impairment, hearing impairment. Children with mental retardation have enormous problems with memorizing material. This is aggravated by attention deficit and lack of cognitive activity. Therefore, it is recommended that children with mental retardation be offered exercises not only for memory, but also for attention.

A psychologist will help to identify the predominant memory mechanisms in a patient with mental retardation. Some of these children learn better by hearing, while others prefer visual images. Having received advice, parents will be able to develop their child more effectively.

Children with hearing loss do not develop verbal memory, as a result of which they can replace some words with others. Poor auditory memory is observed in children with TSD. Often, the efforts of teachers and parents aimed at developing memory in schoolchildren with hearing loss and hearing impairment do not bring improvement. Repeated consultation and correction by a psychologist and other specialists will be required.

Exercises for older preschoolers

For children 6-7 years old, the following tasks are suitable for improving memory:

  • "We were packing our suitcase." The game is designed for 2 or more participants. The driver begins: “We were packing our suitcase and put a toothbrush in it.” The first participant must repeat the sentence and “put down” another object. Each subsequent player repeats the above and adds something new. The game ends when one of the participants makes a mistake when repeating the sequence.
  • “Remember how it was.” The driver tells a story using items prepared in advance. At the end of the story, a puppy comes running and makes a mess. Then the adult asks the child to collect the objects and put them in their places. The kid comments on his actions.
  • “Memorize and draw.” This game has 2 options. In the first, an image is shown, and then the player is asked to reproduce what he saw from memory on paper. In the second, some details are missing in the picture, and the baby’s task is to remember and depict them.
  • Ask blindfolded players to touch the items on offer and then list them in order.

The tasks given here are suitable for children with mental retardation. They will help develop attention, memory and thinking.

Features of teenage memory

Teenagers 12 years old are already proficient in voluntary memorization. This ability develops slowly until age 13. Then, by the age of 16 years, memory formation is observed sharp jump, its volume increases. For adolescence semantic memorization is characteristic, and mechanical memorization fades into the background. Thinking is actively involved. For a student over 13 years old, memorizing abstract material does not cause any difficulties.

To develop memory, teenagers can be offered exercises with number sequences, word games, tasks for presenting and reproducing images (Imagine the pictures that I will say. Now open your eyes and write down the remembered images). Such tasks will help teenagers improve their memory and work effectively with educational material.

Cheremoshkina L.V. in his manual “Development of Children's Memory” offers a lot of exercises designed to develop memory in adolescents and children. Book by L.V. Cheremoshkina will help parents and teachers in conducting developmental and correctional classes. The tasks contained in it are also suitable for children with mental retardation and other disabilities.

In addition to exercises and activities to improve memory and attention, it is recommended to support good mood, learn to relax. A balanced diet that includes fish, chocolate, vegetables, and physical exercise. Be sure to take multivitamin complexes. And psychologists recommend chewing gum.

The topic of training mental functions is endless. It cannot be fully disclosed in one article. The main thing is to remember that the efforts of parents and teachers aimed at developing children will certainly yield results. Those whose families are raising children with mental retardation, speech impairment and hearing impairment should not give up. With the necessary correction, they will definitely succeed.

It can rightly be called the crown of human knowledge. It is a mental activity with its own goals, motives, operational functions and results. It can be characterized in different ways: as highest degree assimilation and processing of information and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships between objects of reality, as a process of displaying the obvious properties of objects and phenomena and, consequently, the formation of ideas about the surrounding reality, and as a process of understanding the world, based on the continuous replenishment of the baggage of concepts and ideas about it.

But, regardless of the interpretation, it can be established that the better a person’s thinking is developed, the more effectively he can interact with the world around him and other people, study and cognize, understand phenomena and truths. Thinking is formed as a person develops from his very birth, but life circumstances do not always develop in such a way that it continues to develop. It often happens that, having reached a certain level, development slows down. However, each of us is able to influence this process, like many others. In other words, everyone is capable
, and how this is done, we will talk in this article.

But before we get down to the main material, we should say a few words about what thinking is like in general. In total, there are several of its main types, studied by specialists most often and most of all:

  • Visual-figurative thinking;
  • Verbal-logical (aka abstract) thinking;
  • Visual-effective thinking;

Below we will present brief description each type of thinking and indicate effective and simple ways their development.

Visual-figurative thinking and exercises for its development

With the help of visual-figurative thinking, reality is transformed into images, and ordinary phenomena and objects are endowed with new properties. It involves visually solving problems and problems without the need to resort to practical actions. The brain is responsible for its development. Visual-figurative thinking should not be confused with imagination, because... it is based on real objects, actions and processes, and not imaginary or fictitious ones.

Visual-figurative thinking can be developed in adults and children in the same ways. Here are some good exercises:

  • Remember several people with whom you had the opportunity to communicate today, and imagine in detail their clothes, shoes, hairstyle, appearance, etc.
  • Using just two nouns, one adverb, three verbs and adjectives, describe the words "success", "wealth" and "beauty".
  • Swipe: imagine the shape of the ears of your pet or, for example, an elephant; count the number of apartments in your entrance and imagine how they are located in the house; now turn it over English letter"N" by 90 degrees and determine what came out of it.
  • Describe the following objects and phenomena in words: a flying swan, flashing lightning, the kitchen of your apartment, lightning, a pine forest, a toothbrush.
  • Recall in your memory the image of a recent meeting with friends and give mental answers to several questions: how many people were in the company, and what clothes did each of them wear? What food and drinks were on the table? What were you talking about? What was the room like? What position did you sit in, what sensations did you experience, what did you taste from the food and drinks you consumed?

These exercises can be modified at your discretion - you can do whatever you want, but the main thing here is to use visual-figurative thinking. The more often you use it, the better it will develop.

You can also take a look at a course that will help you develop your thinking in just a few weeks. Check it out here.

Verbal-logical (abstract) thinking and exercises for its development

Verbal-logical thinking is characterized by the fact that a person observing a certain picture as a whole isolates from it only the most significant qualities, not paying attention to unimportant details that simply complement this picture. There are usually three forms of such thinking:

  • Concept – when objects are grouped according to characteristics;
  • Judgment - when any phenomenon or connections between objects are affirmed or denied;
  • Inference – when specific conclusions are drawn based on several judgments.

Everyone should develop verbal and logical thinking, but it is especially useful to develop it from an early age in children, because this is an excellent training for memory and attention, as well as imagination. Here are some exercises you can use for yourself or your child:

  • Set a timer for 3 minutes and write down the time maximum quantity words starting with the letters “zh”, “sh”, “ch” and “i”.
  • Take a few simple phrases, such as “what’s for breakfast?”, “let’s go to the movies,” “come visit,” and “there’s a new exam tomorrow,” and read them backwards.
  • There are several groups of words: “sad, cheerful, slow, cautious”, “dog, cat, parrot, penguin”, “Sergey, Anton, Kolya, Tsarev, Olga” and “triangle, square, board, oval”. From each group, select those words that do not fit the meaning.
  • Identify the differences between a ship and an airplane, grass and a flower, a story and a poem, an elephant and a rhinoceros, a still life and a portrait.
  • A few more groups of words: “House - walls, foundation, windows, roof, wallpaper”, “War - weapons, soldiers, bullets, attack, map”, “Youth - growth, joy, choice, love, children”, “Road - cars, pedestrians, traffic, asphalt, poles.” Choose one or two words from each group, without which the concept (“house”, “war”, etc.) could exist as such.

These exercises, again, can be quite easily modernized and modified, simplifying or complicating them at your discretion. It is thanks to this that each of them can become in a great way abstract thinking training for both adults and children. By the way, any such exercises, among other things, perfectly develop intelligence.

Visually effective thinking and exercises for its development

Visual-effective thinking can be described as the process of solving mental problems by transforming a situation that has arisen in real life. It is rightfully considered the first way to process received information, and it develops very actively in children under 7 years of age, when they begin to combine all kinds of objects into one whole, analyze them and operate with them. And in adults this type thinking is expressed in identifying the practical benefits of objects in the surrounding world, being the so-called manual intelligence. The brain is responsible for the development of visual and effective thinking.

An excellent way to learn and train here is the usual game of chess, making puzzles and sculpting all kinds of figures from plasticine, but there are also several effective exercises:

  • Take your pillow and try to determine its weight. Then “weigh” your clothes in the same way. After this, try to determine the area of ​​the room, kitchen, bathroom and other areas of your apartment.
  • Draw a triangle, a rhombus and a trapezoid on album sheets. Then take your scissors and turn all these shapes into a square by cutting once in a straight line.
  • Place 5 matches on the table in front of you and make 2 equal triangles from them. After that, take 7 matches and make 2 triangles and 2 squares from them.
  • Buy a construction set at the store and make various shapes from it - not just those indicated in the instructions. It is recommended that there be as many details as possible - at least 40-50.

As an effective addition to these exercises, chess and other things, you can use our excellent one.

Logical thinking and exercises for its development

Logical thinking is the basis of a person’s ability to think and reason consistently and without contradictions. It is necessary in most life situations: from ordinary dialogues and shopping to solving various problems and developing intelligence. This type of thinking contributes to a successful search for justifications for any phenomena, a meaningful assessment of the surrounding world and judgments. The main task in this case is to obtain true knowledge about the subject of reflection with the basis for analyzing its various aspects.

Among the recommendations for the development of logical thinking are solving logical problems (and this is also an excellent training for memory and attention in children and adults), passing IQ tests, logic games, self-education, reading books (especially detective stories), and training intuition .

As for specific exercises, we advise you to take note of the following:

  • From several sets of words, for example: “chair, table, sofa, stool”, “circle, oval, ball, circle”, “fork, towel, spoon, knife”, etc. you need to choose a word that does not fit the meaning. Despite its simplicity, it is very efficient technology development of logical thinking, and similar sets and exercises can be found in large quantities on the Internet.
  • Group exercise: Gather with friends or the whole family and divide into two teams. Let each team invite the opposing team to solve a semantic riddle that conveys the content of some text. The point is to determine. Here small example: “The clergyman had an animal on the farm. He had strong warm feelings for him, however, despite this, he carried out a violent action on him, which led to his death. This happened for the reason that the animal did something unacceptable - it ate part of the food that was not intended for it.” Thinking logically, one can recall a children's song that begins with the words: “The priest had a dog, he loved it...”
  • Another group game: a member of one team performs an action, and a member of the other must find the reason for it, and then the reason for the reason, and so on until all the motives for the behavior of the first participant are clarified.

Let us repeat that these exercises (in particular the last two) are excellent ways to develop logical thinking and intelligence, suitable for people of all ages.

Creative thinking and exercises for its development

Creative thinking is a type of thinking that allows you to systematize and analyze ordinary information in an unusual way. In addition to the fact that it contributes to extraordinary solutions to typical tasks, questions and problems, it also increases the efficiency of a person’s assimilation of new knowledge. By using creative thinking, people can view objects and phenomena with different sides, awaken in themselves the desire to create something new - something that did not exist before (this is the understanding of creativity in its classical sense), develop the ability from one task to another and find many interesting options doing work and getting out of life situations.

Development methods creative thinking are based on the idea that a person realizes only a small percentage of his potential during his life, and his task is to find opportunities to activate unused resources. The technology for developing creativity is based primarily on several recommendations:

  • You need to improvise and always look for new ways to solve everyday problems;
  • There is no need to focus on established frameworks and rules;
  • You should expand your horizons and constantly learn something new;
  • You need to travel as much as possible, discover new places and meet new people;
  • You need to make learning new skills and abilities a habit;
  • You need to try to do anything better than others.

But, of course, there are also certain exercises for the development of creative thinking (by the way, we advise you to familiarize yourself with our courses on the development of creative thinking and thinking in general - you will find them).

Now let's talk about exercises:

  • Take several concepts, for example, “youth”, “man”, “coffee”, “teapot”, “morning” and “candle”, and select for each of them the maximum possible number of nouns that define their essence.
  • Take several pairs of different concepts, for example, “piano – car”, “cloud – locomotive”, “tree – picture”, “water – well” and “plane – capsule” and select the maximum number of similar features for them.
  • Imagine several situations and think about what could happen in each of them. Examples of situations: “aliens are walking around the city”, “not water, but lemonade is running from the tap in your apartment”, “all domestic animals have learned to speak human language”, “it snows in your city in the middle of summer for a week.”
  • Look around the room where you are now and stop your gaze on any object that interests you, for example, on a closet. Write down on a piece of paper 5 adjectives that go with it, and then 5 adjectives that are completely opposite.
  • Remember your job, hobby, favorite singer or actor, best friend or the other half, and describe it (him/her) in at least 100 words.
  • Remember some proverb or, and write, based on it, a short essay, poem or essay.
  • Write a list of 10 purchases you would make before the end of the world.
  • Write a daily plan for your cat or dog.
  • Imagine that, upon returning home, you saw that the doors of all apartments were open. Write 15 reasons why this could happen.
  • Make a list of 100 of your life goals.
  • Write a letter to your future self – when you are 10 years older.

Also, to activate your creativity and intelligence, you can use two excellent methods in everyday life - and. These ways to develop creativity will help you destroy all stereotypes, expand your comfort zone and develop an original and unique type of thinking.

In conclusion, we will say that if you have a desire to organize or continue your education and develop your thinking more effectively, then you will certainly like one of our courses, which you can familiarize yourself with.

Otherwise, we wish you every success and well-rounded thinking!

Every day a person has to look for solutions to various problems or simply compare facts. In the everyday bustle, we rarely think that such skills can be developed. Many people think that this is unrealistic for adults, others cite lack of time. Today we will consider such an issue as the development of logical thinking.

What is it?

To fully find out what this phenomenon is, let’s pay attention to its components - thinking and logic itself.

Thinking is understood mental process, during which information is processed and connections are established between events, objects or phenomena. The factor of subjectivity, that is, a personal attitude towards something, is very strong here.
Logic leads our thinking to objectivity. Simply put, this is the science of correct, true thinking. It has its own methods, laws and forms. The “cornerstone” for her is experience and knowledge, not emotions.

In order to come to simple conclusions, common sense is enough. But in difficult situations one cannot do without appropriate thinking, which helps to “work through” the most correct option actions even with a minimum of facts.

Important! It is better to do the first exercises once. For example, solve one crossword puzzle or play a few simple games of chess. For starters, this will be enough.

Logical thinking is a process during which a person resorts to logical concepts based on evidence and prudence. Its goal is to obtain a reasonable conclusion based on the “given,” that is, specific premises.

There are three types of logical reasoning:


  • Figurative-logical. With it, the situation seems to be “played out” by the imagination, while we remember the images of the objects involved or the features of the phenomena. Yes, you can call it imagination.
  • Abstract. Here it is more complicated; categories, objects or connections are used that do not exist in reality (that is, abstractions).
  • Verbal, in which people share their logical judgments with others. What is important here is not only a penchant for analysis, but also competent speech.
Having learned what logic is, let's see how it can be useful in life.

What is this for?

The ability to think logically is valuable for everyone, regardless of occupation. True, for some it is a means of obtaining a general, everyday conclusion, while others use formalized and strict logic (engineers, philosophers, mathematicians).

Did you know? Aristotle was the first to systematize knowledge about logic. The philosopher wrote a series of six works devoted to basic concepts and categories. This collection is known as the Organon.

Thinking training helps:

  • Make the right conclusions faster and more accurately, even in;
  • Calculate soberly, avoiding self-deception and not allowing yourself to be misled;
  • Correct your own mistakes and;
  • State your arguments clearly and concisely;
  • Convince your interlocutor by giving the necessary arguments.

Any of these points is worth thinking about working on your logical apparatus. Having mastered such techniques, you can quickly separate the necessary data from verbal or documentary “husk.” There is also a psychological point: with such an “arsenal” a person is not afraid of difficulties and confidently achieves academic success or career heights.

Logical thinking: innate or acquired?

The ability to think logically is a trait that people acquire. This is confirmed by both psychologists and other specialists. No one is born with the gift of logical thinking already formed.

Even the simplest level, figurative and logical, appears by the age of one and a half years, when babies begin to analyze everything that surrounds them and gradually separate the important from the unimportant.

Such skills are often called empirical, that is, those that are associated with personal experience. Unfortunately, they are often supplemented with templates that are “driven in” by the environment. This is how critical thinking abilities are lost.

Meanwhile, anyone can reach the level of abstractions. We often talk about non-existent phenomena, without even thinking about the fact that our logical apparatus is working hard at this time.
Teachers and “techies” will confirm that their own experience and regular training perfectly develop logic, even if a person was far from regular multi-level thinking. There would be a desire.

Is it possible to develop logical thinking in adults?

It is possible and even necessary. The world is changing very quickly, and with the old “baggage” of knowledge it can be difficult to think about something carefully. Many people believe that the basics they receive at school or university will be enough, but this is not entirely true.

It happens that the first levels are completed easily, but then it’s a struggle. Don't despair, give it a little rest, and the solution will definitely come.

Don’t be afraid to peek at answers (especially at the very beginning of class). By knowing the inputs and solutions, a logical solution path can be calculated and applied to other situations.

Important! Reading serious books - historical, philosophical or popular science - also helps. There is no point in “swallowing” hundreds of pages of them; read little by little, pondering the information.

In many serious companies, HR specialists give candidates such problems during the course, assessing the speed of solution and the reasoning of the answer. They can be either purely professional or without reference to the type of activity. So you'll have to work on your logic.

Board games

The first thing that comes to mind is chess. A leisurely game requires analysis and thoughtfulness, while reaction speed is not needed here. You can play with anyone, but it is better to choose a stronger opponent who can show the fastest and most effective combinations. After just a few games, you will notice that you yourself are playing complex etudes, counting on a move or two ahead.

There are also a lot of other games - entire thematic sets are offered, based on the plots of popular books or TV series. This is a great way to pass the time with friends or family, while at the same time keeping your logic in good shape.

There are also plenty of such games of intelligence. This is a great tool for those who are thinking about how to develop logic. Some of them come with a countdown, but this should not be annoying.
They all use the “cause-effect” principle. That is, the initial data may have several solutions, but only one will be correct. Despite all the apparent simplicity, it will be difficult for an unprepared person at first - the answer options often seem mutually exclusive, although they are composed in such a way that it seems that any one is suitable. This is the essence of training.

Did you know? The Russian philosopher Nikolai Aleksandrovich Vasiliev is considered one of the “fathers” of modern (or non-classical) logic. Having started his work back in tsarist times, already in 1918 he entered the list of “old” scientists recognized by the Soviet government.

The number of questions can be any - from 10 or more, so you can “indulge” in such tasks even during your lunch break.

Crosswords and puzzles

Everything is simple here. Trying to fill all the cells with missing words, we “scroll through” all our knowledge.

Japanese Sudoku is more difficult. The cells have to be filled in so that in each 3x3 square (and there are usually 9 of them) the numbers from 1 to 9 appear once, and the same story with large lines and columns. Start with the simplest ones, usually the difficulty is indicated in the task.

An excellent way would be to solve graphic crosswords, at least the Japanese ones. They have one solution in the form of a picture. It will work if you shade the cells correctly (based on the indicated numbers). Here, too, you can peek at the solution and compare it with the initial data - it can be difficult to get your bearings right away.

You can try making your own crossword puzzle. Making riddles can be more difficult than looking for the answer, especially since you have to correlate the location of letters and cells.

Study of deduction and induction

In order not to complicate things, we immediately note that the deductive method provides a conclusion from the general to the particular, and induction, on the contrary, brings the disparate to the general.

Important! A diary helps analyze the connection between events. To some it seems archaic, but at times it is useful to re-read old notes and restore them in subsequent actions and “calculate” possible options their development.

Deduction- this is pure logic, but it has one weakness: the initial facts must be true. Here is an example of such a conclusion: “all racing cars are difficult for ordinary drivers”, “I am an ordinary driver”, therefore “I cannot cope with a powerful car on the track”.

In life we ​​use more often inductive method, such reasoning is based on facts that may turn out to be untrue. Then our conclusions have to be substantiated. This often leads to hasty generalizations and wrong decisions. There is also the so-called incomplete induction, in which the conclusion significantly exceeds the “sum” of the individual facts.

These abilities can be developed by mentally “driving away” various everyday situations and cases.

Developing logical thinking in children

When working with, you have to take their age into account. This is worth remembering when thinking about how to develop logical thinking in a child.

On different stages development use equally diverse logical methods:

  • For the youngest (up to 3 years old), clarity and simplicity are important. At this stage, the foundations are laid: kids learn to distinguish between different things and (objects are used for various purposes and cubes, excellent in coloring).

Did you know? Mastering logical techniques at an early age sometimes leads to unusual results. For example, the legendary mathematician William Sidis consciously called himself an atheist at the age of six, which was a bold step for America at the beginning of the 20th century.

  • At 3–4 years old, verbal and figurative logic is consolidated. The easiest way is to draw with one extra object. The child is asked to tell why he is not suitable. You can also “play” with words.
  • Before school (5 - 6 years old) they take the simplest tasks with numbers and graphic games, and make speech and question games more complex;
  • After 7 years, they try to improve speech skills, develop the ability to generalize, analyze and search for cause-and-effect relationships. During this period they move on to abstractions.
To make it interesting for children, classes are held in game form. Individual inclinations are also taken into account. At the same time, problems are not solved “head-on” - if it is difficult for a child, then they are simplified. And, of course, no notations.

Riddles

They must be age appropriate. At the same time, the child imagines what objects or phenomena are mentioned in the task. The main emphasis is on imaginative thinking - in the form of a riddle, kids usually reveal new “facets” of the things around them.

This approach allows us to evaluate everything that is happening in a multi-faceted way. The most effective interval for such exercises is from 2 to 5 years.

There are many such sets on display in any children's store. Again, they choose based on age.

For kids it is better to choose a set large figures(the same cubes or balls). They do not contain elements that a child could inadvertently swallow. By assembling simple structures from them (snakes, houses, etc.), you activate the logical apparatus - the baby remembers characteristic features and tries to recreate them.
For those who are older, prefabricated Lego-type modules are available. Here you have to work according to the instructions, correlating the details with the image. Parents' help will be very helpful. Such sets have another advantage - the nodes can be combined. For example, assemble another house or another car from “blocks”. This will only be beneficial, developing your thinking.

WITH younger schoolchildren It’s more difficult - it’s not easy to tear modern children away from gadgets, and they won’t be interested in banal cubes. This is where parents come into play. In stores you can see kits for assembling models of airplanes or ships. If you buy a kit of initial complexity with a small number of parts, you can not only interest the child, but also spend more time with him - without the help of his father, he is unlikely to immediately assemble what is in the picture.

Games

Games with geometric figures are suitable for kids. Offer to find an extra one or collect identical ones. At the same time, ask how they differ.

Did you know? We started solving Rubik's cubes for speed immediately after they appeared. The current record is held by Colin Barnes (5.25 sec). But the Brazilian Pereira Campanha, with a result of 25.14 s, is hardly inferior to him in skill - he assembled the figure... with his legs!

Association also comes into play here - when showing a figurine, you can ask what it resembles. For spatial imagination, they are folded into simple structures such as a house.

Speech games are also important, especially those focused on the difference: “in spring it’s warm, and in winter it’s …”. If this stage has already been completed, they name the objects and ask them to say which group they belong to.
Older children can be shown the basics of playing chess or checkers. By explaining the movement of the figures, you seem to provoke the child to try different options. Simple “tac toe” should not be forgotten either.

Puzzles

Such logical “ABCs” lay the foundations of thinking. Their elements are made large and safe for children.

Popular types are dies that are connected if the patterns on them match desired color or letter. For example, on one there is a black cat drawn

True, it is better to postpone complex monochromatic areas such as the image of the sky - if it is not possible to assemble it right away, the child may lose interest or lose faith in his abilities.

We learned how to “develop” our logic skills and what it takes to do so. As you can see, it is quite simple for both an adult and a child. Good luck in your training!

Logic itself is not a human skill given from birth; it is learned throughout life, receiving valuable lessons. Such a tool for understanding the world is not close to emotional human nature, so people prefer to think and do as they are more accustomed to. However, this science underlies most of the laws of the Universe. The ability to think and reason consistently and consistently is useful in solving many problems. Be it building business projects, persuading opponents, or shopping in a store. And the question immediately arises: “How to develop logical thinking and live as efficiently as possible?” We will consider the answer to this in the article below.

People often make mistakes that defy logic. They think that it is enough to be guided by common sense and experience, ignoring laws and special techniques formal logic. However, this may be sufficient only when making elementary judgments and solving simple problems; when carrying out large-scale operations, certain knowledge will be required that will not allow you to make erroneous actions.

What is logic

In order to understand what it is, it is necessary to explain this phenomenon more broadly, dividing it into components.

By thinking we mean the processing of received information by the human psyche, and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships between objects, events and phenomena of the surrounding world.

Logic is the science of the forms, methods and laws of intellectual mental activity. Its peculiarity is that knowledge is obtained not from sensory experience, but in the process of analyzing previously obtained data, inferential knowledge.

Thus, logical thinking is thought process, forcing a person to use logical constructs and concepts based on evidence, prudence and flexibility of thinking. The main goal is to obtain the most reasonable conclusion from the available data.

Logical laws are based on empirical knowledge of the world through experience. That is, a person draws a conclusion based on the creation or participation in a certain situation and subsequent awareness of its specific consequences.

Workout

The development of creative thinking and logic is only possible if the mind is accustomed to working in different directions. The development of logical thinking needs to be trained, here are some practical tips:

  • Studying Natural Sciences

Take up the study of science close to your spirit, which you have been putting off.
Physics, chemistry or history, other exact sciences perfectly stimulate flexibility of thinking. They teach how to build cause-and-effect chains.

  • Use reasoned argument

Instead of the standard desire to answer “because I’m in charge” or “it’s necessary,” try to convey your point of view to your opponent without emotions, constructively. Use logical as well as creative thinking, there can be a huge variety of dialogue options, get rid of the usual phrases and reactions.
Particularly interesting is the way of leading the interlocutor to the necessary conclusion through indirect statements with which he initially agrees.

  • Play chess, backgammon, checkers and card games

This is an amazing opportunity to develop logical thinking. After all, there is training in cause-and-effect relationships, calculating the opponent’s moves in advance. One is trained to learn lessons even from defeats. Thus, a person gradually removes negative thinking from his life.

  • Find other ways to use items

This exercise promotes excellent development of creative thinking in adults. Choose one item, be it a box of matches or a stool. And find everything possible ways using the item for purposes other than its intended purpose. You can count matches, lay out drawings, and use a stool as a stand for a Christmas tree. Get creative.

  • Association game

Use opposite meanings to emerging associations specific words. Let's say hard wool, soft glass, hot ice. This helps our brain tune in to a different mindset and remove negative thinking.

  • Read books from the end

In addition to the understandable difficulties in completing this task, there are also nuances. Our brain is accustomed to the fact that resolution can only come when specific actions are taken. But both in life and in books, this is not always true. Sometimes the most unexpected events lead to results that were not intended. A gradual transition from the denouement to the preface will help debunk your guesses and learn an abstract vision of the situation, and also develop mobility and flexibility of thinking.

  • Expand your vocabulary

When you hear an unfamiliar word, look up its meaning in the dictionary. And also: what is the history of origin, original meaning and use now. This will help you look at the world in a more multifaceted way.

  • Words backwards

When in transport or on the street, read signs backwards. It will be very difficult. At first they will only get short words, and then you will master the ability to read entire phrases! This is a great brain workout that shows there are alternatives. And, once in a problematic situation, it will be easier to see other options.

  • Invent something that doesn't exist

The exercise is to come up with an animal or object, a name that does not exist in nature. Leopard or birdfox, for example. And imagine or depict all this in detail. The point is that it is very difficult to invent something that does not exist. The brain still tries to reduce everything to familiar forms, especially in adults.

Sometimes negative thinking takes over, and it becomes difficult to complete a task that seems absurd. The ability to abstract from familiar forms and concepts, concentrate on still little-studied facts, and create fundamentally new things will be useful in any profession.

  • Solve anagrams

You need to make a word from the mixed letters. Develops the ability to quickly find hidden meaning, to see meanings that are incomprehensible at first glance.

  • Use your other hand

If you are right-handed - left, if vice versa - right. Change your hand while performing everyday tasks. This stimulates both hemispheres, improving concentration, activating new neural connections, thus stimulating logical and creative thinking.

Who needs to develop logic

Logical thinking is necessary for any person, regardless of his goals. After all, with flexible thinking, each of us can:

  • find optimal profitable solution problematic situation;
  • always be several steps ahead of enemies or competitors, calculating their possible actions;
  • choose the right way to achieve your goal;
  • express your thoughts in a form understandable to everyone;
  • It’s quite easy to find arguments to sway opponents in your direction;
  • avoid making professional and life mistakes;
  • deal with sophistry and demagoguery;
  • be able to quickly formulate an answer to the question posed, avoiding blurting out the first thought that comes to mind, which can cause great harm later;
  • clearly see manipulations on the part of other people, do not become a victim of their deception;
  • be aware of mistakes made by other people or yourself, and quickly and easily eliminate them.

Why do you need to develop logic?

How to develop thinking? Every person has it to one degree or another. But for a better understanding of reality and the ability to operate with it, logical thinking, sufficiently developed, is necessary. high level. This can only be learned through training.

Creative thinking can be developed and negative thinking can be eliminated. The brain is trained no less than the muscles, perhaps more. By constantly training thinking and memory, a person can develop throughout his life, methodically improving his performance. The development of intellectual abilities is a guarantee of effective self-improvement.

Thanks to the ability to think logically, a person acquires the ability to think creatively, because a completely different understanding of reality opens up, which gives many advantages.

It is commonly believed that creative thinking is opposed to logic and reason, but this is a false statement. Creative perception of reality is fundamental to creativity. This does not at all mean the need for negative thinking, which is characterized by focusing exclusively on the bad. On the contrary, it allows you to train your brain, clear it of stereotypes and interfering attitudes, and look at everything from the outside. This is how perfect horizons open up. As a result, the ability to solve problems in a non-standard way, to find previously impossible ways.