There are two primary considerations to keep in mind when
talking about how the different aspects of our thinking relate to each
other. The first is the relative strength of each aspect – some
people are more emotional (C) than others, while others are relatively
emotionally distant. There are highly rational (A) people who are good
at problem-solving, while others find analytic work taxing or tedious. Some people have great attention to detail (B), while others
don't attend to the particulars of their environment. Each person has
different strengths.
The second consideration is the priority we place on each aspect
in relation to the others. Depending on people's backgrounds, they can prioritize different aspects of their thinking process. This is
not simply having a strong aspect as noted above, but more a matter
of which aspect you trust more. That is, when someone accuses you of
“thinking poorly,” which aspect of thinking can they use to
correct you?
If A has the highest priority, you would expect to be
corrected by reason and analysis – asking questions like “why?”
and “how?” to determine if you are making the best decision. For
A priority people or cultures, “good thinking” is
conceptual/analytic thinking.
If B is highest, then you would expect to be corrected
based on prior experience – what are the rules? What does tradition
dictate? What are our customs? For high B, adherence to custom or
tradition can override a conceptual or analytic argument, even if
that argument is logical and appears to be true.
If C has the highest priority, you would general accept
correction most often based on emotional or relational appeal. Who
did this (and did he or she have the authority)? What will X (my
family, neighbors, friends, etc.) think? What should we (as a group)
do? What is best for us? For high C, relational or emotional
considerations may trump even law or logic.
Most people will recognize that everyone, at some point, asks
questions that reflect each of the A, B, and C aspects of thought. This is right and
proper – all three aspects are part of our cognition. To exclude
any aspect is to literally lose our mind. The differences in relative
strength and prioritization of each aspect, however, can make a
tremendous difference in how we approach our lives on an individual,
local, and global level.
Up Next: Examples of Different Strengths and Priorities
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