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Originally Posted by jason03  I am not clear as to what is abstract thinking. The dictionary says that 'abstract' is something not concrete or in detail but only the important parts. So is abstract thinking like picking up the keywords from a long paragraph ? Can any of the high IQ people here throw some light on this? |
I think abstract thinking is more like this: when a software developer is writing code, he often has a picture in his head of the program he is creating. The picture is like a detailed construction drawing of a building, in the sense that it makes clear where each and every part is supposed to go. Except that a software program isn't anything like a building, of course. There are no bricks, beams and pipes - it's algorithms, routines, modules and other abstract constructs.
Abstract thinking is the ability to make those abstract constructs appear concrete in your mind, so you can build that mental image.