<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
In normally sighted people visual thinking is the dominant mode of thinking and may be intimately associated even with verbal thinking and hence difficult to root out completely.  </p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
Human thought can be generally divided into <strong><a href="https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/visual-thinking/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">visual</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/visual-images-often-intrude-on-verbal-thinking-study-says/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">verbal thinking</a></strong>. Visual thinking is mediated by <strong>visual imagery</strong>, where imagery visual representations are created of things that have been, are, or will be (<em>e.g.</em>, life events such as memories of a recent vacation). In contrast, verbal thinking involves thinking in words, for example when you are thinking about what and how you will tell something to friends or colleagues, <em>i.e.</em>, <strong>inner speech</strong> (source: <a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/visual-images-often-intrude-on-verbal-thinking-study-says/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Harvard Gazette, May 2017</a>). </p>

<p>A study by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28323162" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amit <em>et al</em> (2017)</a> investigated subjects' brain activity when recalling images or sentences. Verbal thoughts resulted in more robust activation of language centers in the brain than during visualizations. However, subjects generated visual images regardless of whether their intent was to visualize or to think verbally. One possible interpretation the authors provide is that visual thinking is a primary mode of thought, which is supported by the notion that verbal abilities appeared later in human evolution and also appears later in childhood.</p>

<p>An interesting notion here is of <strong><a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/inherited+congenital+blindness" rel="nofollow noreferrer">congenitally blind people</a></strong> that lack visual memory altogether. In these instances, visual imagery is totally absent and in these people verbal thinking may be the only mode of thought available <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6222145" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Zimler &amp; Keenan, 1983)</a>. In congenitally deaf-blind individuals the mode of thinking may be further warped into tactile thoughts. These considerations may lead to believe that with sufficient practice, pure-verbal thinking may at least theoretically be possible in the sighted.   </p>

<p><sub><strong>References</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28323162" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amit <em>et al</em>., <em>Neuroimage</em> (2017); <strong>15</strong>(152): 619-27</a><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6222145" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Zimler &amp; Keenan, <em>J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn</em> (1983); <strong>9</strong>(2): 269-82</a></sub></p>

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2017-10-04T19:42:51.887Z
2017-10-07T10:02:37.067Z
2017-10-07T10:02:37.067Z
AliceD
<p>I have seen a lot of resources online about how to teach people visual thinking, but I've seen a lot less on the opposite: how to avoid visual thinking. The problem with visual thinking is that it is inherently concrete, while words are inherently abstract. Given that some subjects are more abstract than others, it is preferable in those subjects to not use visual reasoning. </p>

<p>How can visual thinking be avoided?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-07T14:45:35.560Z
Adding at least one resource that as you claim have seen online as a reference would greatly improve this question. You also state you have seen _less_ on the opposite; do you mean _nothing_? If not, you could also add the sources you _have_ found that mention this. Questions on this site which do not include references to motivate the question are likely to be closed as 'not framed in the cognitive sciences' (the question attracted three close votes as is).
Steven Jeuris
<cognitive-psychology><visualization><thought><self-discipline>
How can visual thinking be avoided?
CosmicGenis
# How can visual thinking be avoided?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-03)

I have seen a lot of resources online about how to teach people visual thinking, but I've seen a lot less on the opposite: how to avoid visual thinking. The problem with visual thinking is that it is inherently concrete, while words are inherently abstract. Given that some subjects are more abstract than others, it is preferable in those subjects to not use visual reasoning.

How can visual thinking be avoided?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, visualization, thought, self-discipline

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Adding at least one resource that as you claim have seen online as a reference would greatly improve this question. You also state you have seen _less_ on the opposite; do you mean _nothing_? If not, you could also add the sources you _have_ found that mention this. Questions on this site which do not include references to motivate the question are likely to be closed as 'not framed in the cognitive sciences' (the question attracted three close votes as is).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-04. Score: 1

**Short answer**  
In normally sighted people visual thinking is the dominant mode of thinking and may be intimately associated even with verbal thinking and hence difficult to root out completely.

**Background**  
Human thought can be generally divided into **[visual](https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/visual-thinking/)** and **[verbal thinking](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/visual-images-often-intrude-on-verbal-thinking-study-says/)**. Visual thinking is mediated by **visual imagery**, where imagery visual representations are created of things that have been, are, or will be (*e.g.*, life events such as memories of a recent vacation). In contrast, verbal thinking involves thinking in words, for example when you are thinking about what and how you will tell something to friends or colleagues, *i.e.*, **inner speech** (source: [Harvard Gazette, May 2017](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/visual-images-often-intrude-on-verbal-thinking-study-says/)).

A study by [Amit *et al* (2017)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28323162) investigated subjects' brain activity when recalling images or sentences. Verbal thoughts resulted in more robust activation of language centers in the brain than during visualizations. However, subjects generated visual images regardless of whether their intent was to visualize or to think verbally. One possible interpretation the authors provide is that visual thinking is a primary mode of thought, which is supported by the notion that verbal abilities appeared later in human evolution and also appears later in childhood.

An interesting notion here is of **[congenitally blind people](http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/inherited+congenital+blindness)** that lack visual memory altogether. In these instances, visual imagery is totally absent and in these people verbal thinking may be the only mode of thought available [(Zimler & Keenan, 1983)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6222145). In congenitally deaf-blind individuals the mode of thinking may be further warped into tactile thoughts. These considerations may lead to believe that with sufficient practice, pure-verbal thinking may at least theoretically be possible in the sighted.

**References**  
**-** [Amit *et al*., *Neuroimage* (2017); **15**(152): 619-27](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28323162)  
**-** [Zimler & Keenan, *J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn* (1983); **9**(2): 269-82](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6222145)


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