Concrete Thinking

concrete thinking

n.

Thinking characterized by a predominance of actual objects and events and the absence of concepts and generalizations.

---

concrete thinking,

a stage in the development of the cognitive thought processes in the child. During this phase thought becomes increasingly logical and coherent so that the child is able to classify, sort, order, and organize facts while still being incapable of generalizing or dealing in abstractions. Problem solving is accomplished in a concrete, systematic fashion based on what is perceived, keeping to the literal meaning of words, as in applying the word horse to a particular animal and not to horses in general. In Piaget's classification this stage occurs between 7 and 11 years of age, is preceded by syncretic thinking, and is followed by abstract thinking. Compare abstract thinking, syncretic thinking.

---

Concrete Thinking

Thought derived from the senses, which reflects experience rather than abstract reasoning. Persistence or reappearance of concrete thinking in adults is abnormal and seen in those who are unable to generalise, linked to primary or developmental defects, or it may develop secondary to organic brain disease or schizophrenia

---

concrete thinking

Psychiatry Cognition that reflects experience, rather than abstraction, typical of those who are unable to generalize