Visual Thinking. The Hidden Talents of People Who Think in Pictures, Schemes, and Abstractions

We all think differently. Word-based thinking, which is linear and sequential, is called verbal. Such people often do well in school, have a good sense of time; they are sociable and organized, and on their desks, neatly organized folders with documents are present. There is another type of thinking – visual. People with this type of thinking tend to perceive the world around them in the form of pictures, images, schemes, and associations. Visualizers generally start speaking late and face problems in school due to traditional teaching methods. However, they love art and mazes, easily navigate terrain, and understand how mechanical devices work, tending to solve problems, even if they seem unsociable. Temple Grandin, drawing on personal experience, scientific research, and social trends, analyzes these two types of thinking and creates a brief history of visual thinking, from school education to workplace safety and beyond.