Is it normal that i don't think in words?

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17 Comments

Maybe only in the case of trying to reason something out, or if I'm talking to myself, I use words to think, but even then I'm not entirely comfortable with it. Most of my thoughts are in images, sounds, feelings and sensations. This is why I often have trouble formulating certain thoughts, or remembering a name, because it takes time to put an idea into words.
And 'atmospheres' I get from people, concepts or things, those are altogether impossible to describe, but they're like auras specific to the person/thing.

How normal/common is this? Does anyone know why it happens?

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69% Normal
Based on 55 votes (38 yes)
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Comments ( 17 )
  • thr
    10 years ago

    I have noticed how trying to articulate thoughts or feelings does sometimes not do the thought/feeling justice, as if there is a part of the thought that is lost upon articulation. And sometimes there will be a thought, that I will try to describe with words, but I will then interpret this description as referring to something different from what it was meant to describe.

    It makes sense to me, 'cause words are a tool you have for things, which you have already learned the name for. You can still have a thought of something even if you have no name for it.

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  • dom180
    10 years ago

    This one of the big problems I have with a lot of the perspectives of developmental psychology I'm being taught about at the moment. There seems to be an assumption that people "think in language", which I think is an incredibly bizarre assumption to make. I agree with you and a lot of people in this thread (who have articulate the feeling a lot better than I could have), people think in much more nebulous ways and while language is a helpful tool to think socially it certainly isn't all people think in.

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  • LornaMae
    10 years ago

    ......::::::/......:.:::....._______+ <>*****=...... ][............-,!?

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    • jeebley
      10 years ago

      Well, that's your opinion. Frankly I think it's taking things a little too far.

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      • LornaMae
        10 years ago

        It's not really fair to say that, since I put it as a question. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree then.

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        • jeebley
          10 years ago

          Oh, I thought it was rhetorical! My mistake. It's not something I would condone; but I suppose what you do in your private life is up to you... Personally I think seven is more than enough.

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          • LornaMae
            10 years ago

            Oh, no. It was a legitimate question! Now I really don't know. I think you may be right though; despite the fact that six is by far more common, seven sounds just right :D

            At the same time, I have to point out, you're can't radiating yourself.... Just sayin'

            I mean contradicting...

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            • jeebley
              10 years ago

              Ha, true :) I still think seven should be the limit, though. If anything goes wrong, who's going to clean up all the cheese??

              And I can ladiate myself if I so choose!!

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  • Tommythecat.
    10 years ago

    "Most of my thoughts are in images, sounds, feelings and sensations"

    I don't want to alarm you but you may be a dog.

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  • ViolenceAgainstTheState
    10 years ago

    Words are just a way of sharing information. Like Braille or semaphore. We don't think in the method of sharing information. We think information and then translate it into an appropriate way to share it.

    It would be very strange to think in words. Almost a disability.

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  • Avant-Garde
    10 years ago

    You might have Synesthesia.

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    I'm not sure how common it is but I'm the same way.
    I can think in words, but it's not my primary way of thinking. I mostly think in patterns, actions and ideas.
    Sometimes it is hard for me to know how to verbalize things but I'm getting much better at it. Typing a lot has helped.
    People have all kinds of ways of thinking. No 2 people think the same.

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  • KeddersPrincess
    10 years ago

    That actually sounds pretty cool. Are you a good artist (painter, illustrator, etc.)?

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  • handsignals
    10 years ago

    No, I think in words Bub.

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  • Jayy
    10 years ago

    Same here!!

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  • Aliceee93
    10 years ago

    Huuh?

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  • imadragon
    10 years ago

    I've never heard of a person not having an internal/inner dialogue, interesting. Maybe see if you can find something on google?

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