1. Abstract thinking is the ability to think about concepts, objects, and ideas that are not physically present using symbolic representation. It involves conceptualizing, shifting perspectives, grouping essentials and parts of a whole, and planning ahead. 2. Tests of abstract thinking include proverb interpretation, identifying similarities and differences between objects/situations, and completing conceptual series that require logical reasoning. 3. Formal operational thinking emerges in adolescence and is characterized by abstract thought, deductive reasoning, and defining concepts symbolically.

1. ABSTRACT
THINKING
P R E S E N T E D BY - M R S . N A M I TA S H I R LY L A L

2. INTRODUCTION
A B S T R A C T T H O U G H T O R A B S T R A C T T H I N K I N G I S T H E
A B I L I T Y TO D E A L W I T H C O N C E P T S . A B S T R A C T
T H I N K I N G C H A R A C T E R I Z E D BY -
TO A S S U M E M E N TA L S E T V O L U N TA R I LY
TO S H I F T V O L U N TA R I LY F R O M O N E A S P E C T O F A
S I T U AT I O N TO A N OT H E R .
TO K E E P I N M I N D S I M U LTA N E O U S LY VA R I O U S
A S P E C T O F S I T U AT I O N .
TO G R O U P T H E E S S E N T I A L S O F A W H O L E A N D TO
B R E A K A W H O L E I N TO PA R T S .
TO A B S T R A C T C O M M O N P R O P E R T I E S .
TO P L A N A H E A D.
TO A S S U M E M A K E B E L I E V E AT T I T U D E A N D TO O K
T H I N K O R A C T S Y M B O L I C A L LY.

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 नहीीीीं बजती,
जो गरजते हैं वो बरसते नहीीीीं .
ऊ
ँ ट क
े मीीींह में जीरा,
अधजल गगरी छलकत जाय.
भैंस क
े आगे बीन बजाना,
दूध का जल छाछ को भी फ
ू ीीीं क – फ
ू ीीीं क कर पीता है,
दूर क
े ढोल सहावने लगते हैं,
हर चमकने वाली चीज सोना नहीीीीं होती .

6. 6 . S I M I L A R I T I E S - I N V E R B A L S I M I L A R I T I E S T E S T T H E
PAT I E N T S H O U L D E X P L A I N B A S I C S I M I L A R I T Y T W O
O V E R T LY D I F F E R E N T O B J E C T S O R S I T U AT I O N S A N D
I T R E Q U I R E S A N A LY S I S O F R E L AT I O N S H I P,
F O R M AT I O N O F V E R B A L C O N C E P T S A N D L O G I C A L
T H I N K I N G .
E G - P L E A S E T E L L M E H O W T H E Y A R E S I M I L A R O R
L I K E - P OTATO – C A U L I F LO W E R S C O R I N G -
2 P O I N T S = V E G E TA B L E S 1 P O I N T = F O O D, T H E Y
G R O W I N T H E G R O U N D, E D I B L E . 0 P O I N T = B U Y
I N T H E M A R K E T. C O W – G O AT

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

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…

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.