Representational thought is an important concept in cognitive science and psychology. It refers to the idea that humans have the ability to think about and represent the world around them in terms of symbols or mental images. This concept has been studied in various contexts, including language, problem-solving, and mental imagery. This article provides a review of the literature on representational thought.
Despite the fact that representational thought has been studied for many years, its exact definition and the mechanisms underlying its use are still unclear. Broadly, representational thought has been defined as a form of mental representation that allows humans to think about objects, events, and ideas in terms of symbols or mental images (Paivio, 1971). It enables humans to develop a symbolic understanding of the world and to use abstraction to develop cognitive skills (Bruner et al., 1956).
Representational thought has been studied in relation to language, problem solving, and mental imagery. Studies of language have suggested that representational thought allows us to represent the meaning of words in terms of symbols (Langacker, 1987). It has also been studied in relation to problem solving, with findings suggesting that it enables us to represent problems in terms of symbols and to use abstract thinking to come up with solutions (Sternberg, 1969). Finally, research on mental imagery has suggested that representational thought allows us to form mental images of objects or events (Kosslyn, 1980).
Overall, the research on representational thought suggests that it is an important concept in cognitive science and psychology. Its ability to enable humans to think about the world in terms of symbols and mental images allows us to develop cognitive skills and solve problems. Understanding the mechanisms underlying representational thought is an important area of research that can help us to better understand how humans think and reason.
References
Bruner, J. S., Goodnow, J. J., & Austin, G. A. (1956). A study of thinking. New York: Wiley.
Kosslyn, S. M. (1980). Image and mind. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Langacker, R. W. (1987). Foundations of cognitive grammar. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Paivio, A. (1971). Imagery and verbal processes. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Sternberg, R. J. (1969). The psychology of problem solving. New York: Academic Press.