Educational Psychology (PSY406) VU
Reading Material for Educational Psychology
95
Thinking
Thinking is an incredibly complex process and the most difficult concept in psychology to define or
explain. However, it has not deterred the thinkers, and many different definitions exist. Some of
them are given here.
Valentine (1965):
In strict psychological discussion it is well to keep the
thinking
for an activity which consists
essentially of a connected How of ideas which are directed towards some end or purpose.
Ross {1951):
Thinking is mental activity in its cognitive aspect or menial activity with regard to psychological
objects.
Garrett:
Thinking is bclmviour which is often implicit mid hidden and in which symbols (images, idcus.
concepts) are uidinanly employed.
Mofah (1967):
Thinking is an inipUcu problem-solving behavior.
Gilmer (1970):
Thinking is a problem sol. my process in which we use ideas or symbols in place of overt activity.
All Uic foregoing definitions fall into two categories: One class of definitions maintains that thinking
is a process of internal representation uf external event, belonging to the past, present or future and
may even concern a thing or an event which is not bcing actually observed or experienced by the
thinker. The second category of definition* describes thinking in teuns of problem-solving behavior.
These latter del- u n i o n s are more concrete as well as more definite because they do not rely on
unobsctvHhlc internal representations and define thinking as problem-solving activity that can be
readily studied and measured (1 amino and Reynolds. 1975).
Whatever the appaicnt difference may he both classes of definitions actually tell the same story. The
internal representation of external factors influences problem-solving behavior and the problem-
solving behaviour provides evidence for the existence of internal representation. Therefore, what is
representational may be used as functional and vice versa. The process of thinking and the product
of thinking are both actually assessed by what is obtained as a result of thinking. The lines along
which individuals think must, therefore, always be inferred from the way they behave. Internal
representation or mental explanation of the thing or events i.e., internal behavior, should be made an
essential aspect of the thinking process used in the problem-solving behaviour. Therefore, a workable
definition of 'thinking* must combine internal behavior and the product of thinking or the aims or
purposes of thinking. Thinking may thus be defined as a pattern of behaviour in which we make use of interna!
representations (symbols, signs eti.i of things and events for the solution of some specific, purposeful problem.
Nature of Thinking
What we have discussed about the meaning of the term 'thinking' so far has bnnight out the
following aspects of its nature:
Thinking is essentially a cognitive activity.
It is always directed towards achieving some purpose. In genuine thinking we cannot let our thoughts
wander aimlessly as happens in the case of day-dreaming and fantasizing.
Thinking is described as a problem-solving behavior. From the beginning till end there is some
problem around which the whole process of thinking resolves but every problem-solving behavior is
not thinking. It is related only to the inner cognitive behavior.
In thinking, there is mental exploration rather than motor exploration. One has to suspend one's
overt or motor activities while engaging in thinking through some kind of mental exploration of the
other.
Thinking is a symbolic activity, in thinking, a menial solution of the uiohlern is carried out through
some signs, symbols and mental images. Thinking can shift instantaneously over a span of time and
space.
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