Examples of Linear Thinking

The linear thinking, also called vertical thinking, is that form of reasoning that approaches problems in a sequential, selective and analytical manner, relying on the data and verifiable facts, rather than intuition, risk and creativity, as it happens with other forms of thought. For example: classify the books on the same shelf according to the author's last name.

The name "linear thinking" was coined by the Maltese psychologist Edward de Bono (1933-2021), to distinguish it from the "lateral thinking" that he analyzed in his 1970 work. In this book, linear thinking is defined as something very similar to critical thinking, so this type of reasoning has an important quota of prestige and is normally considered as the safest, most correct and trustworthy.

Linear thinking operates by exclusive selection, that is, always within the limits of what is considered relevant (leaving out, therefore, what is relevant). irrelevant or accessory), and advances towards a solution in a sequential and organized way, until finding a unique solution considered as the best or the most likely. This means that it is a finite, concrete and focused way of thinking, strongly supported by the

logic, deduction and management of clear and obvious rules.

Types of linear thinking

There are three different types of linear or vertical thinking:

linear thinking examples

Some examples of linear or vertical thinking are:

1. Add a series of expenses made and subtract them from the monthly budget, to keep track of how much we have already spent and how much we can still spend.
2. Solve a crossword puzzle by comparing the possible words until you find the correct one in terms of length and order of the letters.
3. Choose between different options a piece of furniture that fits the space in our home where we want to put it, measuring the sides and comparing the measurements with the measurements of the space.
4. Assemble a puzzle, trying one by one the pieces that could go in the same position until you find the correct one and then move on to the next one.
5. Organize in our agenda the activities that we will do during the week, so that they do not overlap and we can do them all.
6. Choose from a catalog of available hotels the one that best suits our economic possibilities during a trip.
7. Fill out a bank form with the correct information to apply for a loan.
8. Classify the books on the same shelf according to the author's last name.
9. Correctly solve a series of mathematical equations applying a step-by-step method.

References:

• “Vertical Thinking”in Wikipedia.
• "Discover what vertical or linear thinking is" in Euroinnova.
• “Linear thinking vs. complex” (video) in the University of La Laguna (Spain).

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