Abstract thoughts can be more complicated than concrete ones.
Daydreaming is often condemned as a waste of time. In reality, daydreaming and fantasizing represent very complex forms of intellectual thought. These activities are examples of abstract thinking, processing figurative concepts mentally. Abstract thoughts -- just like abstract paintings -- are difficult to explain using literal terms. Abstract thoughts aren't constrained by boundaries and might be considered higher forms of thinking.
Definition
Psych Central defines abstract thinking as "the ability to use symbolic representation or logic" and "the opposite of ... concretism." The Psychology Dictionary writes that abstract thinking refers to generalizations, that is, "the ability to grasp essentials and common properties, to keep different aspects of a situation in mind and shift from one to another, to predict and plan ahead, to think symbolically, and draw conclusions." Basically, it is the opposite of concrete thinking, which is literal thinking based in the present time and space.
Examples
A person thinking abstractly would think beyond what is right in front of her. For example, if someone is looking at a book, then she might generalize and think about multiple books, books that are not in the room with her. She might think about what books represent to society or to her personally. When thinking is abstract, it also means that logic and common sense come into play. For example, if a glass of water is at the end of a table, then a person might worry that it might fall over.
Applications
Mastering abstract language is necessary for all kinds of life skills. In personal development, spirituality and other beliefs are all abstract notions. Mathematics and science and analytical reasoning require abstract thinking as well. In order for a person to understand the relevance of a subject, he must be able to connect it with real life. For example, chemistry is relevant when it comes to cooking and medicine.
Development and Processing
Abstract thinking is an important part of intellectual development. The psychologist and epistemologist Jean Piaget hypothesized that abstract thinking and reasoning appears during the last stage of development. This final stage, called the formal operational stage, starts at age 11 and continues on through adulthood, and involves "hypothetical and abstract reasoning with systematic problem solving and abstract thinking." Abstract thoughts may have an advantage over concrete thinking. A 2006 study by the University of Amsterdam found that, because of the constraining nature of concrete thinking, people feel more powerful when allowed to think abstractly.
