Do you think in words or pictures?

[TimeAsylums]

Do you think in words(objects/non-visual) or pictures(visual)?
Yes, you can do both, but which do you do the majority of the time?

Jung stated (which MBTI restated and agreed with) that:

Introverted intuition generally searches out the possibilities of mental phenomena, especially images arising from archetypes. Extraverted intuition generally moves from object to object; introverted intuition moves from image to image.

(taken from A Primer on Jungian Psychology and Psychological Types, can also be found somewhere on Personality Junkie)

I have yet to meet another person irl that also thinks in words(objects/non-visual) like I do, even two auxiliary Ne users(INTPs) which is probably why that was a generality(they claimed visual). I've asked 10+ people, and they all think visually >_<

So, do you think in words or pictures?

 

[Cafih]

Words.

Though I started trying to also make pictures in my head, based on the assumption that the more neural connections are involved, the better the retainment of the ideas. Also, may add perspective to some of them.

 

[Ink]

I'd describe how I think in categories mostly, I definitely don't visualize too much... Are you sure that people actually understands what thinking visually means? Perhaps it just sounds better to them

 

[TimeAsylums]

Are you sure that people actually understands what thinking visually means? Perhaps it just sounds better to them

Yes, I've assumed this stance before that people may be misinterpreting or misunderstanding, it's hard to clarify with just more than synonyms

Thinking in Objects:
Non-visual (you don't see images/pictures most of the time when thinking
thoughts
ideas (non visual again)
words
@Ink describes it as: categories
@TheHabitatDoctor describes it as: "fluidness, but no images"

Thinking in Images(visual)
Images (most of the time)
visual^
Head is always filled with pictures - that is, not your direct line of sight (duh) but what you 'think.'


Ugh, so few people pay attention to the nuances of the mind/body so it's hard to get across :/, but I like exactly how the quote from the Jung book puts it: visual moves from image to image, and non-visual from: object to object. Although to some, 'object' is vague and could be interpreted as visual objects, but because 'visual' has already been defined and taken it clears it up.

@Cafih, yes seems most likely you are indeed an object thinker
@Ink the same for you, I could also say its "categories" @TheHabitatDoctor said the same

I should also note: when I say thinking in "words" I don't literally mean words appear in your head and you see them (I suppose that is possible, but not my point)

INTJ forum: same basic idea of the thread, but they didn't get very far: http://intjforum.com/showthread.php?t=24280

 

[TimeAsylums]

Coincidentally, here is an article that sort of mixes in subvocalization with thinking not in words: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/pristine-inner-experience/201111/thinking-without-words

Unsymbolized thinking is the experience of an explicit, differentiated thought that does not include the experience of words, images, or any other symbols. For example, if you had been beeped a moment ago, you might have experienced an unsymbolized thought which, if expressed in words, might have been something like I wonder what Feature 5 is. But if this was an unsymbolized thought, there would have been no experienced words--no experience of the word "wonder" or of "Feature 5." There would have been no experienced images--no seeing of a beeper or of anything else. There would have been no experienced symbols of any kind, and yet you would have directly apprehended ("before the footlights of your consciousness") yourself as thinking that exact thought.

You're not wondering whether there are still other features, not wondering how Hurlburt knows this, not wondering what kinds of things go on in peoples' inner experience, not wondering about how inner experience is measured, not trying to recall what sensory awareness is, and so on. That is, you're wondering about what feature 5 is, not about anything else that might be more or less closely related to that.

An unsymbolized thought is not "hinty" or "general" or merely a part of some other phenomenon. An unsymbolized thought is just as complete and directly apprehendable as an inner speaking or an inner seeing.

Many people (perhaps most), including many (perhaps most) psychologists, believe that unsymbolized thinking is impossible.

Our beeper studies show the full gamut of frequency of experience of unsymbolized thinking. Some people rarely or never have such experiences, others experience unsymbolized thinking at nearly all their waking moments, and yet others sometimes do and sometimes don't experience it.

Most people who experience unsymbolized thinking, including those in the "nearly always" category, don't realize that they do so. In fact, many people who engage in unsymbolized thinking nearly all the time believe that unsymbolized thinking is impossible, until the beeper reveals its existence to them. A method that carefully explores specific moments is necessary to know what really goes on in inner experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_thinking

Visual thinking is the phenomenon of thinking through visual processing.[1] Visual thinking has been described as seeing words as a series of pictures.[citation needed] Visual thinking is common in approximately 60%–65% of the general population.

"Real picture thinkers", those persons who use visual thinking almost to the exclusion of other kinds of thinking, make up a smaller percentage of the population. Research by child development theorist Linda Kreger Silverman suggests that less than 30% of the population strongly uses visual/spatial thinking, another 45% uses both visual/spatial thinking and thinking in the form of words, and 25% thinks exclusively in words. According to Kreger Silverman, of the 30% of the general population who use visual/spatial thinking, only a small percentage would use this style over and above all other forms of thinking, and can be said to be 'true' "picture thinkers".

 

[scorpiomover]

Words. Always have done.

I can imagine things in pictures, and I do, when I want to visualise something.

But naturally, I think in words.

 

[Wolf18]

When I speak, and listen, I can see the words and mentally type them or play them over in my head. It is visual, but it is visual Times New Roman. When I need to, I think in pictures.

I have a control panel in my mind. It is a room with a map of the world and a typewriter. When I want to remember words, I use the typewriter. When I want to remember images, I use the map.

SW

 

[Absurdity]

Almost exclusively pictures. It's difficult for me to imagine what thinking in words would be like.

This (among other things) has led me to wonder if I'm Ni-dom.

 

[TimeAsylums]

When I speak, and listen, I can see the words and mentally type them or play them over in my head. It is visual, but it is visual Times New Roman. When I need to, I think in pictures.

I have a control panel in my mind. It is a room with a map of the world and a typewriter. When I want to remember words, I use the typewriter. When I wand to remember images, I use the map.

SW

30% of the population strongly uses visual/spatial thinking, another 45% uses both visual/spatial thinking and thinking in the form of words, and 25% thinks exclusively in words. According to Kreger Silverman, of the 30% of the general population who use visual/spatial thinking, only a small percentage would use this style over and above all other forms of thinking, and can be said to be 'true' "picture thinkers".

looks like you fall into the 45% category
I'm definitely a pure words.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Almost exclusively pictures. It's difficult for me to imagine what thinking in words would be like.

This (among other things) has led me to wonder if I'm Ni-dom.

ooh, looks like you fall into the 'very small percentage' of pure-visual thinkers.


And don't take my OP quote for it, it was just general, as I said, I met two INTPs (who were definitely INTPs) who thought predominately in images/visual.

I haven't really seen too many of your posts,
INTP seems fitting just from what I've seen
but I suppose...INTJ could fit

 

[Ink]

I don't think in words or pictures, what am I doing then? I mean, don't you only think in words when you're talking? When you're playing a social scenario in your head? Of course I do that on occasions but I can't understand why you'd do that all the time.

 

[TimeAsylums]

I don't think in words or pictures, what am I doing then?

See the links(quotes) I posted and my re-edited versions of words(thoughts/objects) vs images. like I said, when thinking in words it's not literally that you see words in your head (although that has been brought up by someone in this thread, but if you see them then that implies visual.

I mean, don't you only think in words when you're talking? When you're playing a social scenario in your head?

I do. But, others don't, especially a few of my close friends, they described it as "a movie theater film constantly playing" or something like that.

Of course I do that on occasions but I can't understand why you'd do that all the time.

It's not by choice (the majority of the time), but just natural flow - the way it is.

Taken from the quote a few posts above:

Most people who experience unsymbolized thinking, including those in the "nearly always" category, don't realize that they do so. In fact, many people who engage in unsymbolized thinking nearly all the time believe that unsymbolized thinking is impossible... a method that carefully explores specific moments is necessary to know what really goes on in inner experience.

 

[Ink]

It's not by choice (the majority of the time), but just natural flow - the way it is.

Taken from the quote a few posts above:

Well, my natural thinking process is not thinking in words nor visualizing things, just "shuffling through and sorting in categories", I really don't know how to explain it other than that...I find your thinking slows down if you start thinking in a language, perhaps it's a combination then?

 

[TimeAsylums]

Well, my natural thinking process is not thinking in words nor visualizing things, just "shuffling through and sorting in categories", I really don't know how to explain it other than that...I find your thinking slows down if you start thinking in a language, perhaps it's a combination then?

It's not that I'm "thinking in language." Your "category" description very much fits the thinking in "objects" description, I think just because I called it "words" is confusing you.

Putting it an easier way: Visual vs Non-visual. You're clearly non visual

 

[Thurlor]

I think in words. To be more precise, there is a constant internal dialogue occuring in my head.

But that isn't all I do. I also think visually or spatially (which has visual elements to it). I can easily imagine a 3d shape and manipulate it in my imagination.

All my maths is visual and/or spatial. I envision a number line that I imagine I can move along. OT - I envision time in much the same way.

My Ex GF (ISFJ) was unable to comprehend the mere notion of thinking visually. She couldn't remember anything visual either. At most she could remember a verbal or internal description. I found the whole thing bizarre (still do).

All of this reminds me of synesthesia.

 

[TimeAsylums]

I think in words. To be more precise, there is a constant internal dialogue occuring in my head.

But that isn't all I do. I also think visually or spatially (which has visual elements to it). I can easily imagine a 3d shape and manipulate it in my imagination.

All my maths is visual and/or spatial. I envision a number line that I imagine I can move along. OT - I envision time in much the same way.

Nice! Def can reciprocate the "internal dialogue." Must be nice in math classes, wouldn't be surprised if that correlated to some high iq too (the visual/spatial math) Looks like you're one of those "both" but mainly words. (wiki link quote)

My Ex GF (ISFJ) was unable to comprehend the mere notion of thinking visually. She couldn't remember anything visual either. At most she could remember a verbal or internal description. I found the whole thing bizarre (still do).

Yes, some people have trouble coping/even accepting the idea that people 'think' differently than they do. I can't remember anything visual (same as her), but I don't have trouble accepting/comprehending it.

 

[Foxman49]

I'm a mix of unsymbolic, words, and visuals.

Unsymbolic thinking helps me generate ideas, develop concepts, and find nonstandard solutions. It it also serves as the mental glue for the rest of my thought processes. It is this weird Ne-Si combo. Using it my thoughts flow idea to idea while still retaining some sense of continuity. I find it especially difficult to explain this type of thinking because it is inherentably not translatable into words.

I use words typically in three situations. Words help me structure and flesh out raw concepts and ideas in my head. Second they help me reason through situations in dialogue style. Finally, when combined with unsymbolic thinking it helps to understand the strategic layout of a situation.

My visual thinking is not in pictures in the strictest sense. I run mental simulations and sometimes "play back" events in my head to analyze them.

 

[TheScornedReflex]

Words. I only get images when I am picturing something.

 

[Thurlor]

@TimeAsylums

During my late teens my IQ was tested at 136 (IIRC). Is that high? I've always been rather unsure of myself and figured myself lower in intelligence than the 'average joe'.

 

[TimeAsylums]

@TimeAsylums

During my late teens my IQ was tested at 136 (IIRC). Is that high? I've always been rather unsure of myself and figured myself lower in intelligence than the 'average joe'.

heheh, a lot of people (esp here) don't care for the IQ scale (I don't myself)
but since you brought it up, just look at the IQs of other people

Apparently 'standard' is 100-110 or something and a standard deviation is 10pts either way, bell curve or whatever, I *think* the lowest Mensa Accepts is 130 ( i could be wrong, just check their site) And the highest recorded ever was like 200 or something, but it's unreliable after 180+
But I think that puts you in the 98th+ percentile or something like that.

you can google all sorts of shit, just look it up

 

[QuickTwist]

When I think I first have to conceptualize what idea it is. After that I generally try to come up with patters that have to do with that idea (like where I have seen it before) and the possible implications it could have. sometimes it is similar to "that could be like X" but it is so fast that there really are no words and I would then draw a conclusion from the patterns or sequence I see. This is all true, I am not making it up.

@TimeAsylum/Architect/Duxwing, what could you gather from this and what does this say about my type?

I will repeat this in the Ask Architect thread just to be sure I get a response.

 

[walfin]

Pictures.

But there is kinesthetic intelligence too, y'know.

 

[jie2]

I would say that I am somewhere in the middle. After reading this thread, I tried taking careful note of my style of thinking. What I came up with is that I primarily think in words when I am playing out a real/imagined past/future dialog with someone else, in that I am giving a response to a real/imagined question/scenario (such as what to post on this thread). Many times I find this type of thinking pattern frustratingly compulsive and undesirable. The extent to which I will play out an imagined dialog knows no end.


Aside from that I would say 80% of my thinking naturally leans towards images which are many times simply symbolic in nature. Sequences of images (not symbols) appear if I am thinking about what I will do in the future. As a basic example, if I plan on cleaning the gutters tomorrow I will visualize the objects/steps involved (garage, ladder, climbing, roof…). I will not actually think out the words involved with those objects/steps. That also applies to much bigger planning as well. I would be interested to understand how a primarily word thinker processes such future planning. Would it be simply a narrative of the steps involved, with no images? Or a combination of both?


Symbolic images come into play when I am processing through concepts or troubleshooting problems. I believe that I use symbolic images in regards to concepts to bring meaning and understanding to ideas that I am working through. That type of thinking takes up a huge percentage of my thoughts, and is difficult to impossible to turn into words. Also, in my work I troubleshoot problems that have no physical manifestation, so I find processing through them symbolically is a must.


Something else I will note. I cannot remember the words to a song to save my life, but I can remember/identify the melody/sounds very easily. My wife is the very opposite, she can remember all the words to a song after only hearing it once or twice, but has a difficult time with recognizing/remembering the melody. She primarily enjoys music with words, and I primarily enjoy music without words (however I don’t mind words if they add to the music as any other instrument would). I asked her about thinking in words versus images, and she seems to be somewhere in the middle, leaning towards words.

 

[TimeAsylums]

Yes... As others pointed out there are indeed more than visual/non-visual ways of thinking, apparently there are around 6-ish if you read the links

Visual
Non-visual(words/objects)
Kinesthetic
Musical
Mathematical
and some other things

 

[Pyropyro]

I usually think in words/formulas when I'm engaged in a problem solving mode that uses logic and concrete data. However, when I'm off managing emotions or engaging in imaginative play, my mind presents visual imagery which might also have accompanying sounds.

 

[Pyropyro]

I think in words. To be more precise, there is a constant internal dialogue occuring in my head.
All of this reminds me of synesthesia.

I usually imagine a sort of council within my head if I need to do an important decision. My aspects are usually pitted as the logical, stern and calculating old man and the naive, gushy yet loving young boy.

The old guy mostly wins but sometimes the young boy convinces me to take a more feelings based action.

 

[Ink]

Sequences of images (not symbols) appear if I am thinking about what I will do in the future. As a basic example, if I plan on cleaning the gutters tomorrow I will visualize the objects/steps involved (garage, ladder, climbing, roof…). I will not actually think out the words involved with those objects/steps. That also applies to much bigger planning as well. I would be interested to understand how a primarily word thinker processes such future planning. Would it be simply a narrative of the steps involved, with no images? Or a combination of both?

I think this sort of visualizing is Si usage for us INTPs, internal perceiving functions are supposed to be the most visual right?

 

[TimeAsylums]

I think this sort of visualizing is Si usage for us INTPs, internal perceiving functions are supposed to be the most visual right?

That would be my take on it, yes, seeing as it's introverted.

 

[John_Mann]

"I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." - Albert Einstein.

 

[TimeAsylums]

"I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." - Albert Einstein.

"I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." - Albert Einstein.

This quote alone is enough for typing of some-what iNtuition. lol.

 

[Foxman49]

"I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards." - Albert Einstein.

http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/Goodies/Einstein_think/index.html

 

[TimeAsylums]

http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/Goodies/Einstein_think/index.html

Mmm...too interesting to ignore...must check out and read...will check back.

 

[Brontosaurie]

some dimly lit blueprints in a big dark space

 

[Nezaros]

Neither. I think in abstract concepts mainly. It's a large part of why I have difficulty articulating myself in person.

 

[mm1991]

Both.

 

[DelusiveNinja]

I think in words but when listening to music I get pictures symbolizing the lyrics if known.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I am afraid that I think in neither. It is really hard to explain to people. It also makes it difficult to articulate the thoughts and ideas I have.

 

[DelusiveNinja]

If only I could transfer that image to a canvas with my mind using some sort of ESPer abilities.

 

[Black Rose]

Unsymbolized thinking

I seem to have either have a mental block or the above.
If math is visual then I cant do it in my head alone. Usually I draw half finished diagrams and "think" how do things work together. Also I collect crisp images that I find meet my aesthetic ideal but I am not creative in creating images mentally. Ideas are easier to translate into words when I talk face to face and combine facts/ideas I remember. Not that many people who listen understand me except my sister.

 

[cheese]

My Ex GF (ISFJ) was unable to comprehend the mere notion of thinking visually. She couldn't remember anything visual either. At most she could remember a verbal or internal description. I found the whole thing bizarre (still do).

Yes, some people have trouble coping/even accepting the idea that people 'think' differently than they do. I can't remember anything visual (same as her), but I don't have trouble accepting/comprehending it.

Some people are *unable* to visualise. I know one. Extremely intelligent but cannot visualise anything at all, ie has never been able to see any picture in his head, willed or unwilled. Thinks solely in words and probably ENTP. I found that hard to understand when I found out.
(I can't tell if you meant you too never experience visualisation TimeAsylums.)

My own thinking is mostly categories and images, I suppose, with occasional words. Words generally make me feel I'm at the front of my brain and aware of my environment. My mind feels like it's right behind my eyes. My usual mode of thinking feels like it takes place in the middle or back of my brain, and my consciousness recedes into my body as well. I'm not aware how far back I am till I snap out of it.

When I'm trying to transfer something from Ti into words, it often feels like the thought is taking place in my core/stomach or perhaps far back in my brain, and I'm trying to pull it with sheer force. (When it's really bad, at least - often it's much easier and the transfer happens almost instantly.) Along the way I try to mould it into the correct category-shapes that will eventually make up the words, but if I can't I lose my grip on it and it falls back in.

There are some interesting correlations with Nardi's preliminary brainscan-MBTI research iirc, but I'd prefer to check it in detail before I say anything (no time now).


Here's Nardi's talk, if anyone's interested and doesn't already know about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGfhQTbcqmA

 

[Thurlor]

I've noticed a few people mentioning music, which got me thinking about how I think about and perceive music.

For me music is associated with movement. The smplest tunes or rhythms bring on an internal sense of movement of either my internal self(?) or an imaginary construct.

-Pitch is up/down.
-Tone is vibrations left/right and forward/back.
-Volume is an increase in size.

 

[jie2]

The smplest tunes or rhythms bring on an internal sense of movement of either my internal self(?) or an imaginary construct.

That sounds pretty intense/cool.

My favorite music involves several different harmonies (Dissonance?) weaving around each other that end up coming together. This type of music creates many interesting imagines in my head, usually played out as optical threads traveling and weaving around each other, coming together and dispersing. Bach is my favorite for this reason.

 

[scorpiomover]

especially a few of my close friends, they described it as "a movie theater film constantly playing" or something like that.

Sounds like how INTJs describe what's going on inside their minds.

I've noticed a few people mentioning music, which got me thinking about how I think about and perceive music.

For me music is associated with movement. The smplest tunes or rhythms bring on an internal sense of movement of either my internal self(?) or an imaginary construct.

I have that with rhythms and tones. When I hear songs and tunes of a certain style, I have an almost uncontrollable desire to dance to the beat.

 

[Black Rose]

The Visual Spatial Learner (Pt. 1 of 3)
The Visual Spatial Learner (Part 2 of 3)
The Visual Spatial Learner (Part 3 of 3)

 

[redbaron]

Both.

When I think of broad concepts I see a web of inter-connected lines, each line representing an entire concept, with its own systematic constructs branching out into ever more ideas and concepts. I guess it's sort of like a menu...a gigantic construct that only I can decipher, traversed intuitively and without conscious effort. When I switch to a certain topic, the web springs into my mind, and I select the correct strand unconsciously, which then opens up more and more avenues.

When I delve into specifics or when I find the concept I'm looking for, my thoughts turn to words. It becomes descriptive and comparative.

 

[DIALECTIC]

Interesting question, i used to think in words but since doing meditation nearly 2 years ago i now mainly think in images, ideas, emotions... Daily use of meditation seems to have turned off / down my ego's subvocalization. The disadvantage is that i do have now a lot of problems to express what i want to say so most of the time i don't bother.

Also i think in some sort of "general ideas" (intuitions ?), it's hard to explain but i can compare it to the first movie of the Terminator in the 80s whenever we were being shown what he was seeing through is computerized red interface, well he was getting a lot of data about whatever he was looking at, well i do also but not in words just in ideas, for example i could look at someone and instantly i will have plenty of data about that person: for example potential dangers, opportunities, why he is being dressed this way etc. etc.

Dunno if that resonates with anyone else ? I am sure daily use of meditation altered / enhanced my cognitive processing... I think a lot faster now, however as i have said words pretty much had to go as a result...

 

[Puffy]

Almost exclusively pictures. It's difficult for me to imagine what thinking in words would be like.

This (among other things) has led me to wonder if I'm Ni-dom.

Same - or at least I think in pictures to a greater degree than most people I know.

It's partly why I love cinema so much, and I think it's why I love comics even more. I remember the first graphic novels I read being a major revelation, as it felt like it mirrored my thinking processes really closely. Lots of ideas followed, as it's just a language I can work with.

I'm pretty sure I'm an Ni-dom, INFJ more than likely.

 

[Brontosaurie]

Same - or at least I think in pictures to a greater degree than most people I know.

It's partly why I love cinema so much, and I think it's why I love comics even more. I remember the first graphic novels I read being a major revelation, as it felt like it mirrored my thinking processes really closely. Lots of ideas followed, as it's just a language I can work with.

I'm pretty sure I'm an Ni-dom, INFJ more than likely.

you draw comics or make movies yourself?

 

[Puffy]

you draw comics or make movies yourself?

I've written finished scripts that I think could be adapted to either, and I have a collection of photos from photo-experiments I've been doing that I will make into comics eventually. But not yet, it's an interest that started a few years ago; based on other's feedback I think I have the ability if it's something I keep to.

 

[Brontosaurie]

I've written finished scripts that I think could be adapted to either, and I have a collection of photos from photo-experiments I've been doing that I will make into comics eventually. But not yet, it's an interest that started a few years ago; based on other's feedback I think I have the ability if it's something I keep to.

cool!

if you have any drawings or sketches to share i'd like to take a look. if that's ok. i understand if the scripts themselves are confidential.