ABC Thinking (3): Putting Thoughts Together - How A, B, and C Relate

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