VISUAL THINKING

1. Ever find yourself wondering why others don’t think the same way you do? This is a typical human problem. After all, our only frame of reference is our own mind. But the more accurate stance is to recognize that no two people think exactly alike. Like a lot of human traits, our way of thinking can be seen to exist on a spectrum. In this case, it’s a spectrum of verbal thinkers and visual thinkers. For some people, tackling an issue is done with the help of words and language. 2. For others, it’s about sorting things out visually through patterns and abstractions. And then there are those who do a little of both. But as we’ll explore in this Blink, places like the US tend to champion verbal thinkers over visual thinkers. And not just that, but visual thinkers are often considered to be in need of remedial treatment. In an attempt to right this wrong, we’ll highlight the importance of understanding and appreciating different cognitive styles – and the diverse strengths they bring to various domains.

1. Growing up, Temple Grandin believed that everyone thought like her – in pictures. It wasn’t until she was much older that she realized many people think in words. They were verbal thinkers, while she was a visual thinker. Later still, through the work of researchers like Maria Kozhevnikov, she found out that there are two kinds of visual thinkers: object visualizers, who think in pictures, and spatial visualizers, who see patterns and abstractions. Grandin is an object visualizer – as are many artists, graphic designers, architects, inventors, and mechanical engineers. Conversely, many statisticians, scientists, engineers, and physicists are spatial visualizers. 2. Visual thinking is a unique cognitive style that involves creating mental images and associations. It allows individuals to quickly make connections – like having an internal GPS for navigating their surroundings. As a person’s visual database grows with age and experience, they become even better problem-solvers. They can make more connections and see solutions more clearly, benefiting from their rich reservoir of visual data. Research indicates that the brain's visual and verbal systems develop differently as children grow. And people’s thinking exists on a spectrum; individuals may have a mix of visual and verbal tendencies. This balance varies from person to person and can manifest in different strengths and weaknesses. 3. But one thing is certain: visual thinking is a valuable asset, particularly in creative and problem-solving fields. Object visualizers excel in practical tasks, while spatial visualizers thrive in abstract thinking. The merging of these skills, and combining them with verbal thinking, is crucial for innovation. So then why is it that society often prioritizes verbal thinking? In the following sections, we’ll find out.

1. Around the turn of the century, a major change was underway in the US school system. Classes that emphasized hands-on learning were disappearing, and being replaced by those that emphasized standardized testing. This was reinforced in a major way by the No Child Left Behind Act, which was introduced in 2001. The consequence was the loss of opportunities for visual thinkers to explore their interests and talents. Many schools have since eliminated hands-on classes like shop, welding, and mechanics that, for decades, had allowed visual thinkers to thrive. Nowadays, many visual thinkers are considered poor academic performers and placed in special education. But they may just have a thinking style ill-suited to current teaching methods biased toward verbal, linear thinkers who test well. 2. Field trips are another school activity that have all but disappeared in recent years – but these too can be hugely helpful in engaging the minds of visual learners. Physical visits and hands-on experiences can ignite visual learners’ curiosity and expose them to different ideas and potential careers. Take the rise of video games in recent years. These games have had a strong allure, especially for individuals with autism – who, research suggests, are more susceptible to game addiction. Replacing screens with real-world activities like auto mechanics could be a successful intervention. 3.The requirement of algebra for all students, regardless of their future paths, has also raised concerns. Some experts argue that intermediate algebra isn’t necessary for non-STEM students – and that this rigid requirement may hinder progress, especially in object visualizers. A pilot program in California has shown that more flexible math course options can improve completion rates. It's clear that standardized aptitude testing doesn’t account for the different types of thinkers. This oversight may be screening out talented object-visual thinkers, especially, and preventing them from reaching their full potential. In the next section, we’ll look at the long-term problems this can cause.

1. So, what happens when a nation’s education system emphasizes standardized testing and screens out visual thinkers? Well, we can actually see the effects of this already. In the larger global context, the US is facing challenges in innovation and manufacturing. Much of the manufacturing and industrial infrastructure that’s used in the US comes from Europe, with innovative designs coming from countries like Denmark or Germany. And it’s hard to argue that it doesn’t have something to do with the way in which trade schools and visual-thinking students have been neglected. 2. The history of invention showcases the ingenious minds of object thinkers who transformed society with their creations. Craftsmen, designers, inventors, and engineers – all of whom think visually – have played a crucial role in advancing technology, often blending art and science. Innovations like the cotton gin, mechanical reapers, and sewing machines all resulted from clever engineering that didn’t require any advanced knowledge in math. The failure to identify and nurture visual thinkers and their unique talents leads to what is referred to as the “failure to launch.” These individuals aren’t encouraged to pursue careers where their skills would thrive and benefit society. Other countries, in contrast, have recognized and promoted their clever engineers. 3. Neurodiverse individuals may excel in specific areas despite social challenges. Accepting that they may not fit the conventional mold is crucial – because they can still provide valuable contributions. Parents should resist the urge to be overprotective, and encourage their kids to be more independent. Coaching and support can help individuals with different thinking styles to adapt and contribute effectively. 4. Grandin has encountered numerous success stories of people who have thrived despite being screened out at an early age. There was the car salesman who had difficulty making eye contact and who lacked certain social graces – but whose enthusiasm about cars, and his amazing ability to recall the details and differences in various makes and models, made him one of the best dealers at his firm. There was also the woman in Maine who struggled with math and was placed in special education – but who, once she discovered printmaking, became a master printer and opened up a successful print shop called PrintCraft. 5. The question is then, can we open new avenues in education – like apprenticeships – to cater to the diverse skills of our workforce? The failure to recognize and nurture the abilities of visual thinkers has both individual and systemic ramifications; it’s essential to embrace diverse ways of thinking for the benefit of all.

1. So far, we've learned that there are different types of thinkers – including verbal, object, and spatial. Understanding this diversity is the first step toward successful collaboration in a variety of fields, like scientific research, computer science, engineering, and the arts. 2. Great ideas often emerge when different thinkers join forces. It may sound like a cliché, but there’s some truth to the idea that “suits,” or businesspeople, tend to think alike, while original ideas come from those with unique perspectives. Tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook all started when diverse minds got together and dreamed, resulting in groundbreaking innovations. 3. In many fields, these collaborations can be simplified. In the tech world, for instance, the object visualizer designs the hardware, while the spatial thinker writes the code. In construction, object visualizers design intricate equipment, while engineers use their mathematical minds to create structural specifications. 4. In the realms of architecture and engineering, object visualizers and visual-spatial thinkers come together to create functional yet aesthetically pleasing structures. The Eiffel Tower is a perfect example. Its visual-spatial engineer, Gustave Eiffel, got all the glory – but Eiffel himself credited the object-visual thinker and architect, Stephen Sauvestre, as being greatly responsible for the tower’s memorable shape. 5. It’s the same in musical collaboration. Take Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, whose complementary minds created timeless Broadway classics. The story goes that the two weren’t really friends and hardly spent any time together. But, as Stephen Sondheim put it, Hammerstein was a man of limited talent and infinite soul, while Rodgers was a man of infinite talent and limited soul. In other words, a verbal thinker and a spatial thinker made beautiful music together. 6. Research also supports the benefits of building teams that reflect diverse thinking. Teams composed of both visual-spatial thinkers and object visualizers tend to outperform homogeneous teams. Remember, the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts.

1. Edison, Einstein, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk. If we look at their personalities and characteristics, we can see that many of the people we hold up as geniuses share more in common than just entrepreneurial success. Like many visual thinkers, these people all struggled at school – and they ended up revealing their great potential once they engaged in hands-on activities. 2. It’s not hard to see that neurodiversity, including autism and visual thinking, has been crucial for human progress. But it’s also important to note that gifts can come at a cost: when one sense is heightened, it’s often at the expense of others. If, say, a person is autistic, has Asperger’s, or is on the extreme spectrum of visual thinking, their heightened awareness of sensory details can coincide with things like a lack of empathy, social awareness, or personal hygiene. 3. Some of these common traits have led scientists to believe that geniuses like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were on the spectrum. It’s documented, for instance, that Michelangelo lived in squalid conditions, suggesting that his extreme visual thinking made him disregard personal hygiene. 4. Dyslexia is also linked to visual thinking. The condition is known to affect the right frontal lobe, an area associated with spatial visualizing. Dyslexia and creativity can be linked within the esteemed minds of Picasso, Edison, Einstein, Flaubert, and Yeats. The filmmaker Steven Spielberg was also diagnosed with dyslexia later in life, and his prodigious visual sense is now considered a compensation for his dyslexia. 5. Einstein's placement on the spectrum is debated, with some linking him to Asperger's. But he’s on the record as describing his thoughts as being visual in nature. We also know he didn’t speak fluently until the age of five, and had a preference for sensory impressions over words. In constructing his world-changing theories, he relied on his visual-spatial and object visualization abilities. 6 These individuals were all fortunate enough to bypass the roadblocks that can often hinder similar minds. Their legacies should serve as a reminder that we need to nurture brilliance and neurodiversity, and offer pathways so that future geniuses can flourish.

1. For this last section, let’s shift gears to look at the critical role visual thinkers can play in two areas: identifying potentially dangerous situations and recognizing animal consciousness. We’ve already mentioned that visual thinkers are especially adept at noticing the fine details. Now, this doesn’t mean that visual thinkers can predict the future – but it does mean that they excel at identifying design flaws and system failures that can lead to disasters. The world needs both scientists and hands-on problem-solvers to tackle twenty-first-century problems. 2. In fields like industrial design and architecture, object visualizers shine. Most engineers, regardless of their specialization, possess visual-spatial minds. But the ideal scenario is to have projects that contain a balance between spatial, mathematical, and object visualizers. Collaboration between different thinking styles is crucial in preventing both immediate mishaps and trouble down the road. Object visualizers’ attention to detail can help ensure that the mathematical analyses are grounded in accurate data. 3. The delayed launch of the James Webb Space Telescope serves as an example of an incident object visualizers could have prevented. The visual-spatial minds behind the project didn’t foresee that certain bolts would come loose when the rocket shook during takeoff. Overheating, excessive spinning speeds, and poor design can lead to accidents. Visual thinkers excel at detecting these lurking issues. 4. They’re also capable of looking ahead and instantly visualizing worst-case scenarios. Grandin sees the Flint, Michigan water crisis and the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster as tragic events that could have been avoided with the help of visual thinkers. These kinds of minds can predict the issues, simulate unforeseen consequences, and envision solutions in real-time. 5. Finally, let’s touch on one of Grandin’s personal passions: animals. Humans have long debated the level of consciousness that exists within animals. Some scientists and philosophers in the past have reduced them to little more than automatons who react out of pure instinct versus the emotional, thoughtful reactions humans are capable of. 6. But much of this line of reasoning comes from a verbal thinking perspective. You can easily reframe the famous philosophical concept, “I think, therefore I am,” to “I think verbally, therefore I am.” So much emphasis is placed on language as being the definitive human trait, that any being who can’t communicate in the same verbal fashion is considered unable to possess feelings, emotions, or even consciousness. This verbal thinking approach to animals has been used to justify keeping them in horrendous conditions, subjecting them to cruel experiments, and generally mistreating them. 7. Part of the problem has long been that the people studying animals were doing so by running tests and watching them in captivity. Recently, scientists have adopted a more effective approach by studying animals in their natural habitats, and recognizing them for the astounding visual thinkers they are. The ability to navigate, communicate, solve problems, and mourn lost ones – these are just a few indicators that animals, like humans, have emotional inner lives. This realization is just the beginning of what can be unlocked when we shift our emphasis away from purely verbal thinking, and consider more of what the visual-thinking mind can reveal.

Final summary There is more than one way of thinking. While much of society has prioritized verbal thinking, two types of visual thinking exist on a spectrum: there are object visualizers, who think primarily in pictures, and spatial visualizers, who think in patterns and abstractions. Unfortunately, school curriculums in the US are built primarily around verbal thinkers, which has had the effect of screening out visual thinkers – even though they’re well suited to fields like art, graphic design, architecture, and engineering. The US education system is doing a disservice to these future geniuses by putting up roadblocks and not catering to their learning styles. It’s also doing a disservice to the rest of society: research has shown that visual thinkers offer an important perspective, increasing chances for innovation – and reducing future risks.