Chapter 7

Thinking

Q. 1. Explain the nature of thinking.

Ans. Thinking is a higher mental process in which individuals analyse and manipulate
information already acquired. It includes processes such as reasoning, abstracting, imagining,
problem-solving, judging, and decision-making. Thinking is organised and goal-directed,
helping a person plan action and choose strategies based on whether a task is familiar or
unfamiliar. It is an internal mental process that cannot be directly observed but can be inferred
from behaviour, such as a chess player thinking before making a move.

Q2. Explain mental images as a building block of thought with suitable examples.

Ans. Mental images are pictures formed in the mind that represent objects, places, or events.
They help us think and remember things.

For example, imagining a cat sitting on a tree or visualising the Taj Mahal are mental images.
Mental images are also used when we remember routes or places we have visited before.
Thus, mental images help in understanding, remembering, and thinking clearly.

Q 3 What is a concept? Explain the role of concepts in the thinking process.

Ans. A concept is a mental category that groups together objects, ideas, or events with similar
features. For example, an apple is called a fruit and a dog is called an animal.

Concepts help us organise information and understand the world easily. They help us
recognise new objects by matching them with what we already know. By using concepts,
thinking becomes faster and more efficient, and it becomes easier to make decisions and
solve problems.

Q 4. Explain the role of culture in thinking.

Ans. Culture plays an important role in shaping the way people think. Our thinking is
influenced by our beliefs, values, and social practices. People from different cultures may think
about the same situation in different ways.

A study showed that American and Asian students think differently when shown pictures of
fish swimming underwater. American students mainly focused on the biggest and most
noticeable fish. Asian students paid more attention to the background, such as the water,
plants, and rocks.

The researchers concluded that Americans use analytical thinking, where objects are analysed
separately. In contrast, Asians use holistic thinking, where people focus on the relationship
between objects and their surroundings.

Q. 5 Explain problem solving as a process of thinking

Ans. Problem solving is a step-by-step process in which thinking is used to find a solution to a
problem. Most daily activities involve problem solving because they help us achieve a goal.
Problems are not always difficult; they can also be simple tasks. For example, making a quick
snack for a friend is a form of problem solving.

Problem Solving involves two states- the initial state (problem) and the end state (goal).

These two states are connected by mental operations through several steps

• Identify the problem

• Represent the problem
• Plan the solution (set sub- goals)
• Evaluate all solution
• Select one solution and execute it
• Evaluate the outcomes
• Rethink and redefine problems and solutions.

Q 6. Identify obstacles that one may encounter in problem solving.

Ans. The two major obstacles to solve problem are mental set and lack of motivation.

1. Mental Set
• A tendency to solve problems by using previously tried methods.
• Mental set can lead to mental rigidity, making it hard to adapt to new methods.
• This obstructs the problem solver from thinking of new strategies.
• For example, in maths problems, once you find a solution method, you may keep using
the same steps even when they fail.

2. Lack of Motivation
• If people are not motivated, their skills and talents are of no use.
• Lack of motivation can lead people to give up easily when facing problems or failures.

Q 7. How does reasoning help in problem solving?

Ans. Reasoning is the process of gathering and analysing information to arrive at conclusions.

It is also a form of problem solving.

For example, if you see a person running on a railway platform, you can make different
conclusions about why they are running, such as catching a train, saying goodbye or he has
left his bag in the train.

There are two types of reasoning i.e, deductive and inductive reasoning.

1. Deductive Reasoning

• Deductive reasoning moves from a general rule to a specific conclusion.

• It is used to make decisions and solve problems logically.

• Example:

o General rule: People run on platforms because they are late.

o Conclusion: The person running is late for the train.

• A common error in deductive reasoning is accepting the general statement without

checking whether it is true.

2. Inductive Reasoning

• Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion.

• It is based on experience and observation.

• Example:

o Seeing a person enter a train and return with a bag.

o Conclusion: The person had left the bag on the train.

• A common mistake in inductive reasoning is drawing conclusions without complete

information.

• Most scientific thinking uses inductive reasoning.

Analogy

• Analogy is a type of reasoning that compares relationships between two pairs of

things.

• Examples:

o Water : Fish :: Air : Humans

 o White : Snow :: Black : Coal

• Analogies help in problem solving by helping us understand new situations using

familiar ones.

Q 8. Are judgment and decision-making interrelated process? Explain.

Ans. Judgement and decision-making are closely related mental processes. In decision-
making, a person chooses one option from several alternatives after considering the pros and
cons of each option. Decision-making is different from other types of problem solving because
the possible choices are already known and the task is to select the best one.

In judgement and decision-making, individuals draw conclusions, form opinions, and evaluate
events or objects using their knowledge and available evidence. Sometimes judgements are
made quickly and automatically, without much effort. Judgements may also change when new
information is received. Therefore, judgements are influenced by a person’s beliefs, attitudes,
and experiences.

Q. 9 Explain creative thinking.

Ans: Creative thinking is the ability to generate new, original, and useful ideas or solutions to
problems. It helps individuals think in different and innovative ways.

Creativity can be seen in art forms such as music, painting, poetry, and dance. Creative
thinkers also solve problems in unique ways. For example, A.D. Karve developed a smokeless
chulha using dry sugarcane leaves, and Ashish Panwar built a robot for an international
robotics competition.

Creative thinking does not always involve extraordinary achievements. Everyone has the
potential to be creative in everyday life. Creativity can be applied in many areas such as
writing, teaching, cooking, problem solving, and resolving conflicts.

Everyday creativity is different from special talent creativity, which leads to exceptional and
outstanding achievements.

Q 10. Explain the Nature of Creative Thinking.

Ans. Creative thinking is characterized by novelty and originality.

For example, new models of household appliances, cars or other products are not considered
original unless unique features are added.

Creative thinking involves producing original ideas or solutions that did not exist before.
According to Burner, creative thinking leads to an ‘effective surprise’, meaning people are
often shocked or surprised by new unusual ideas or products.

Creative thinking is not purposeless. Simply thinking is a non- conformist way or having bizarre
ideas without context is not creative

For thinking to be considered creative, it must be reality-oriented, appropriate, constructive

and socially desirable.

Q11. Explain the types of creative thinking given by J. P. Guilford.

Ans According to J. P. Guilford, creative thinking can be of two types: Convergent thinking
and Divergent thinking.

1. Convergent Thinking

• Convergent thinking is used when a problem has only one correct answer.

• The mind moves towards a single, correct solution.

Example:
Find the next number in the series:
3, 6, 9, ___

Answer: 12 (This has only one correct answer)

2. Divergent Thinking

• Divergent thinking is used when a problem has many possible answers.

• It is an open-ended form of thinking.

• It encourages creativity by allowing people to think in different and original ways.

Examples:

• What are the different uses of a piece of cloth?

• How can a chair be improved to make it more comfortable and attractive?

Conclusion

• Convergent thinking leads to one correct answer.

• Divergent thinking leads to many creative answers.

• Divergent thinking helps in producing new and original ideas.

Q.12. Explain the abilities of divergent thinking.

Ans. Divergent thinking includes the following abilities:

1. Fluency

• Ability to produce many ideas for a problem.

• More ideas = higher fluency.

• Example: Listing many uses of a paper cup.

2. Flexibility

• Ability to think in different ways.

• Looking at a problem from various perspectives.

• Example: Using a paper cup as a container, pencil holder, or drawing tool.

3. Originality

• Ability to produce new and uncommon ideas.

• Involves combining old ideas in new ways.

• Example: Growing protein-rich food from weeds in desert areas.

4. Elaboration

• Ability to add details to an idea.

• Helps in developing and improving ideas.

• Example: Explaining how an idea will work step by step.

Q.13 Explain the process of creative thinking.

Ans. The creative thinking process begins when a person feels the need to create something
new or find a new solution to a problem. This need arises when we notice a problem or a gap
in information.

Creative thinking takes place in the following stages:

1. Preparation Stage
• The person understands the problem or task.
 • They collect information and analyse the situation.
• Curiosity and interest increase.

2. Incubation Stage
• The person may feel stuck or confused.
• The problem is kept aside for some time.
• Creative ideas may come without conscious effort, such as while sleeping, bathing,
walking, or relaxing.

3. Illumination Stage
• A new and creative idea suddenly appears.
• The person feels excitement and satisfaction.
• This stage is often called the “Aha!” moment.

4. Verification Stage
• The idea is tested and evaluated.
• The person checks whether the idea is useful and workable.
• Convergent thinking is then used to select the best solution.

Q 14. What is Lateral Thinking? How is it different from Vertical Thinking?

Ans. The term Lateral Thinking was given by Edward de Bono. He used this term instead of
divergent thinking, which was earlier given by Guilford.

Edward de Bono explained that there are two types of thinking:

• Vertical Thinking:This type of thinking moves step by step in a straight line. It goes
from simple ideas to more complex ideas using logic.

• Lateral Thinking: This type of thinking looks for new, different, and creative ways to
understand or solve a problem. It encourages jumping to new ideas instead of
following only one path.

Lateral thinking helps people:

• Think creatively

• Make mental jumps

• Find many possible solutions

Q 15. Name and explain the Six Thinking Hats introduced by Edward de Bono.
Ans. Edward de Bono also introduced the Six Thinking Hats technique. Each hat represents a
different way of thinking about a problem.

1. White Hat: Focuses on facts, information, data, and figures.

(What do we know? What information is missing?)

2. Red Hat: Focuses on feelings and emotions.

(How do I feel about this?)

3. Black Hat: Focuses on judgement, caution, and logic.

(What can go wrong? What are the risks?)

4. Yellow Hat: Focuses on positive thinking and benefits.

(What will work? Why is it useful?)

5. Green Hat: Focuses on creativity, new ideas, and alternatives.

(What are other possible ideas or solutions?)

6. Blue Hat: Focuses on managing and organizing the thinking process.

(How should we think? What is the next step?)

Q. 16 How can creative thinking be enhanced?

Ans. Creative thinking can be enhanced by using certain strategies:

1) Become more aware and sensitive to your surroundings, notice and respond to
feelings, sights, sounds, textures and other elements around you.
2) Spot problems, missing information, anomalies (things that are different from the
standard), gaps and deficiencies.
3) Try to notice contradictions and incompleteness in situations that others may not
notice.
4) Cultivate the habit of wider reading, exposure to a variety of information and develop
the art of asking questions.
5) Generate as many ideas, responses, solutions or suggestions on a given task or
situation to increase your flow of thoughts.
6) Try deliberately to look for multiple angles of a task and situation to increase flexibility
in your thinking. Example: think of alternative arrangements of furniture in a room to
create more space.
7) Osborn’s brainstorming Technique can be used to increase fluency and flexibility of
ideas for open-ended situations. For example, in how many ways could it be done?