we think we think less than we actually think. does that make sense?

Question

like...

when you type, you just know where to put your fingers. when you see a certain person or a certain place your mind jumps and knows what it is. we don't think in words or pictures, so what do we think in? i guess emotions...but not really. those moments of recognition, when stuff just pops into our heads, we think a lot more than we realize. does anyone else get what i'm saying?

Answer 1

To help answer your question, I've broken it down:

"when you type, you just know where to put your fingers. when you see a certain person or a certain place your mind jumps and knows what it is"

What you're thinking of here is different types of memory. When you type, you are using what psychologists call procedural memory. This is the type of memory which allows you to type or ride a bike without having to consciously think through the steps. Recalling procedural memories may be part of the the larger thought processes you're referring to.

Episodic memory is responsible for storing and recalling specific events. It works together with Semantic memory, which is responsible for storing and recalling facts. When you see certain people or places, you might be thinking of when you saw them last (episodic memory) or remembering what they look like (semantic memory).


"those moments of recognition, when stuff just pops into our heads, we think a lot more than we realize"

Not all thinking is conscious. Those "moments of recognition" is evidence that some, if not most of our thinking is unconsious; we don't even know we're doing it. Think back to a time when you just knew something was going to happen, and then it did, but you don't know HOW you knew. This is unconscious mental processing at work.

I agree with you, we think a lot more than we know. Just don't think about it too much, you're head might explode =).

Answer 2

I forget the source, but the average person can think as many as 80,000 thoughts a day.

Some actions are completed without thought. Thought and action can be distinguished. Thoughts can occur about X while the body carries out a series of repetitive actions. Any new task requires thought. Once mastered, the task can be accomplished without consciousness or awareness.

Some people just like to think.

Answer 3

Yes, it makes sense. We should think more tan we actually think. Oh what a world we would live in if people would just take a few extra moments to think before they spoke or acted.

Answer 4

yes....it gives credence to the old saying: "silence is golden" where you can actually hear what you think.

Answer 5

Yes... That's quite good.