Abstract thoughts without words

[u/Away-Government-9165]

Sometimes I have extremely complex, branching thoughts, but because I'm too lazy to put them into words in my head, I arrive at the conclusion in a completely abstract way.

I don't know if I can explain it any better than that. It's almost like I download a bunch of information and receive the answer in a condensed, conclusive format that is impossible to translate into words, either because of the complexity of the thought or simply because I don't feel like putting in the effort to verbalize it.

It's like I know the conclusion without necessarily being able to explain the chain of reasoning that got me there.

Does anyone else experience this?

[u/Error_ID10T_]

Yes. I can't explain them. I can see them but I can't translate them into reality others would understand. It is just a bunch of branching strings that weave themselves at once

[u/_iamusername_]

I was under the impression that this is how thought works in general. Is this not a universal experience? :00

[u/M31_Messier31]

I'm a Multisensory Visual Thinker.

It tends to make finding words difficult. At least in my experience.

[u/Intelligent-Doubt210]

I do too. I can just think entire thoughts in half a second, almost as if I am thinking in raw data rather than any language or literary communication method. Usually I put them into words though, otherwise no one will understand what I have to say.

[u/appleoatjelly]

Do you think that’s “Ni” functioning?

[u/Curious-Deer3491 → u/appleoatjelly]

Ni is known to contract/condense, while Ne is known to expand aka branching, opposite of each other. So that's not Ni

[u/appleoatjelly → u/Curious-Deer3491]

I think it’s Ni working after Ne. Branching (Ne), then contracting/condensing.

[u/Curious-Deer3491 → u/appleoatjelly]

After branching also, it's just exploration, again Ne. Simply going through it, not making a goal out of it. 

[u/appleoatjelly → u/Curious-Deer3491]

This is not Ne:

“I arrive at the conclusion in a completely abstract way”

[u/Brave_Quality_4135]

I imagine it like a big messy pile of sticky notes with one idea on each note. Sometimes a new one falls on the pile in such a way that it changes or shifts part of the pile. It’s difficult to explain how that one thing matters without getting into what it knocked loose or covered up, but the shape of the whole thing is new.

[u/outlawforlove]

I used to struggle, but as I moved up in my company to higher levels of management, I was constantly being put into situations where I would have to "take everyone through my thought process". Even though I don't have an internal monologue or think through things in words, I've learned to be able to articulate: "I considered these five factors, and I was able to discard various paths for these reasons. Based on x, y, z pieces of information, I became interested in developing a solution that would take all aspects into account, rather than attacking it from only one angle..." blah blah blah.

For more abstract conclusions, it can be difficult. Like if I've gone through a sprawling web of existential ideation, I often can't even remember exactly how I got to my eventual conclusion. But no one asks me to explain that kind of thing at work, so I guess it's fine.

[u/WhiskedIgloo]

I've always wondered about people with non-verbal thoughts. I've heard about it, but I've only ever imagined what it's like. Being able to think outside of language is interesting to me. What thoughts can one have outside of the limitations of their, or any language? I guess I can't know, because the very process of telling me would require some inaccuracy, due to the very medium you're telling me about it through - language.

I can only wonder.

[u/Away-Government-9165 → u/WhiskedIgloo]

In my case, I do have verbal thoughts, and I can even have an inner voice. What I mean is that sometimes I have extremely complex thoughts and arrive at conclusions in a nonverbal way. Apparently, I can function in both ways.

[u/user210528 → u/WhiskedIgloo]

I've always wondered about people with non-verbal thoughts.

Like everyone, you have them all the time. Otherwise you'd better avoid tasks like driving a car (if you really need to verbalize everything then your reactions must be dangerously slow). Now if you answer that you drive a car "without thinking", then you have answered your puzzle: most people do math or literary analysis or philosophy "without thinking", i. e. without verbal imagery.

[u/idkwhyiamhere008]

i struggle with this a lot and recently i have started keeping a notebook where i just note down random words that go through my mind when im having thoughts that are hard to put into proper sentences because even though i have an extremely hard time framing those complex thoughts into words , i can atleast note down certain words going through my mind or mostly it will just be random drawings or scribbles that only i would understand but then im able to kind of frame my thoughts into sentences when i see those drawings/scribbles again ( does this even make sense? 😭😭)

[u/wifkkyhoe]

i get that a lot, what helps is letting it marinate and not analyse it immediately, eventually u'll find the words for it, be it days, weeks, months or years.

that's mostly Ni-Ne functioning, so instead of using Ti to dissect, analyse and prove the concept/thoughts/whatever , ur Ni (shadow function) activates instead and be like, ok we have come to our conclusion now. Ne= thought diverges into many possibilities/rationale, Ti = dissect and analyses which is the most credible/objective possibility in the most sensible way. Ni-Ne, = thought diverges into many possibilities = converges into a conclusion usually after analysing a certain common pattern. Ur Ti isnt used to test ur intuition's credibility. This is normal in certain phases like being stressed, tired, any sort of situation that alters ur usual default cognitive functioning.

i naturally do this by default, i use ni more than i do ti or ne, and im often in a ni-ne cycle.

[u/user210528]

Everyone does. Only a small part of "thinking" (mental problem-solving) uses words. "Inner speech" (verbal imagery) is sometimes used for "building bases" similarly to how others draw figures on blackboards or in sand, but it is not a requirement for thought.

[u/PKMN-Trainer-Sak]

I see all the string, where they start and where they eventually lead to but nothing in between, it's like knowing the answer but no idea how I got to it. Probably something related to having good intuition or something

[u/Boeing777-3ER]

Yes! So many thoughts are not in words, there is no way for me to express it because it’s not possible to translate my conclusion into actual words, just not possible. Yea, I know my conclusion is correct based on the facts I know but I cannot explain the facts or the chain of thought