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Do you think in pictures or words?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by Lawrence, Jun 18, 2015.

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Do you think in pictures or words?

  1. Pretty balanced with both

    37 vote(s)
    36.3%
  2. Mostly pictures

    41 vote(s)
    40.2%
  3. Mostly words

    24 vote(s)
    23.5%
  1. Lawrence

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    On average, do you think more with pictures or words? I've tried to keep this simple (I'm about to go to sleep) but more complex answers are also appreciated.

    In my case, it's mostly future visualisations (maybe sounds fancy, but it's usually more akin to picturing a toaster, because you plan to make toast in 2 minutes), near constant internal monologue, and sometimes a little bit of past conversations.

    I found it interesting to read that some people claim to think mostly in words.
     
  2. Reciprocal

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    I think more in words and numbers. I find it really difficult to visualise a picture, and that's why I'm much better at algebra than geometry. I have friends who are great at drawing 3D images of things jsu tby seeing a picture of front, top and side view; whereas when I imagine a cube I literally just imagine the words "a cube". Interestingly, when I work out a complex equation in my head I imagine all the numbers written down and do, say, the column method in my head. Maybe you have to think in words to be good at maths.
     
  3. Austin

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    I think mostly words but pretty balanced I guess. I feel like it depends on the thing. I tend to read and while I'm reading I imagine it in pictures, but thinking about "I want toast" would probably be in words.

    To comment on the above post, when doing stuff like geometry I tend to think in pictures somewhat... So it varies.
     
  4. kageshiro

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    That's an interesting question. I honestly don't know. I think it's like a combination of pictures, animation and words depending on what's on my mind...
     
  5. GlindaRose

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    Interesting question. I think both. What I've noticed is that it's a lot faster to think in pictures than in words. With words I have to get through each word to form the thought, but with pictures I can get to the point instantly.
     
  6. Yosia

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    Mostly pictures.
     
  7. LesbianThrasher

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    I think it might be both for me. Although maybe I think with words more than pictures. I'm not entirely too sure though.
     
  8. Andrew99

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    I guess I've never really thought about it but I would say pictures.
     
  9. happydavid

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  10. Ruby Dragon

    Ruby Dragon Well-Known Member

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    A combination of the two
     
  11. MindvsHeart

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    A pretty good combo of both. :slight_smile: It really depends on what I'm trying to do at the time.
    If I'm writing something like an essay then I'm thinking with words but mixed into it are pictures of certain words or I'll probably imagine the words in a certain way by attaching it to maybe a scene from a favourite movie of mine.

    If I'm not really familiar with a location then I'll kind of zoom in on certain landmarks that stand out to me (lol no, I'm not a camera) and I'll bring up those pictures at a later date to help me navigate around.

    I also make little notes/To Do Lists too and who can forget my little commentator? The little voice that provides commentary over everything and inserts witty puns, sarcastic comebacks, sometimes mean insults and inside INSIDE jokes that only I would find funny. :3
     
  12. TheStormInside

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    More images than words, but I do have an internal monologue to an extent, too. I am pretty visual in my thoughts and even things like metaphor or turns of phrase will first register as an image in my mind. For example, if someone says "the cat's out of the bag" I see a black cat jumping out of a brown paper bag in my "mind's eye," though I do also understand it means someone spilled a secret.
     
  13. Invidia

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    Pictures, I think. Then again, I often think in neither, but instead in concepts, using pure intuition. Especially when I was younger I did that all the time.
     
  14. Awesome

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    Every thought has some sort of a picture, but not every thought has words.
     
  15. HM03

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    A combination :slight_smile:
     
  16. essie

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    What an interesting question! I mostly think in words. I have a costant internal monologue I can't stop in any way. I also think in pictures from time to time, but I usually have to concentrate to be able to "choose" what to visualize. It might even be easier for me to "project" stuff out of my head, for example I would have an easier time imagining a purple dragon flying around my house, than picturing it in my mind.
     
  17. CalluxRising

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    Mostly images for me. Even with what I'm going to say, I mostly think of how I'll deliver it, what my facial expressions will be like, how the words will come out, etc.
     
    #17 CalluxRising, Jun 19, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2015
  18. DreamerBoy17

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    I'm a mix of both. Like what other people said, I have a constant inner monologue that is running its mouth all day. But if someone is like, "do you want ice cream?" I imagine a cold, delicious chocolate peanut butter cone. Since I write a lot, I need to use both. When I'm visualizing settings, I need to picture every detail in them and think of the words to describe them. I think I lean more to pictures overall though.
     
  19. MrSecret

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    Pictures all the way, but mostly mini movies if you will. Not sure if this is normal or not, but if I listen to music I always make up scenes to go with it. I do this when I'm bored too, and it also happens when I'm trying to decide what to do next in certain situations.
     
  20. flyawayfree

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    I think about most things in pictures. I think in words when I am trying to process what, and how I am going to say certain things.