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Introduction
manipulation of viewable (visual) images and the result is the creation of new images that have a semantic load and make the meaning viewable. Despite a number of existing visual thinking studies in psychological science, the indicated problem cognition is significantly complicated by insufficient development of conceptual approaches that would allow to constructively research the mechanisms and specifics of the mentioned type of reasoning. The main reason for such situation is, firstly, the absence of a clear theoretical and methodological background of this phenomenon; secondly, the ambiguity of approaches to the interpretation of the “visual thinking” concept; thirdly, the complexity of experimental research study of visual thinking mechanisms through their integration and substitution by other cognitive processes; fourthly, the absence of valid and reliable methods of their study. For a long time, the visual thinking issue has been a “blind spot” in psychological science. Although, considering its relevance and importance, there have been attempts to investigate the area. But they are mostly the studies of “thinking images”, “spatial images”, or visible images (perceptual; visual – active thinking; and visual – figurative thinking). We can consider them as specific steps to solve the problem of visual thinking. The scientific research presented in this monograph consists in defining the methodological basis for visual thinking activity study; developing a strategically semantic approach to this activity understanding. The basic provisions of this approach lie in the fact that the general “world picture”, inherent to a certain society, and a person’s “world image”, which is formed in the process of desobjectivation of such “world picture” and objectification of the world, are the main factors of the visual thinking development. These factors determine the visual thinking strategies, which are individual mechanisms of a image-concept formation. A conceptual model of visual thinking is revealed. It shows that the visual thinking strategies as the mechanisms of a image-concept formation and visibility as its property are the system-forming components. The model of visual thinking strategies is formed. These strategies are presented as complex integral formations having a hierarchical structure that includes meta, macro, and micro levels. The interrelation with other thinking processes is revealed. The strategically semantic approach development makes it possible to model the visual thinking process. This is the basis for the study of visual thinking activity and its mechanisms. Based on this conceptual approach to the visual thinking activity study, it is possible to create diagnostic tools and diagnose the visual thinking development, the ability for creative visualization. The visual thinking strategies study in various fields of human activity, particularly creative ones, can also be the basis for the creation of training on visual thinking development.
Symonenko, Abramciow_Visual thinking.indd 8
16.12.2021 10:46:52
