What everyone else here said but also keep in mind it’s not binary.
If you ask me to picture an Apple on a windowsill I can kind of do that. And then if you ask me to make it polka dot, I could kind of do that. In my mind’s eye though it’s like it’s severely myopic. It’s not fuzzy but the details are not there.
When I’m drawing things, the act of me putting the marks on the paper is where the object is formed. I generally don’t have a solid concept in my head that’s coming out on paper. I could definitely do the 2D outline of an apple, But if you want me to perspective skew it there’s no way. I might be able to draw the 2D outline and then slowly modify that to make it look more 3D, But I’ve got to be making changes to something already on paper rather than having something come out that’s just kind of the right direction.
I just think in concepts/abstractions, I don’t know how to explain it, lol.
I definitely don’t think in pictures, like other person said. My mind can’t create pictures out of thin air. That might be more like artists think I guess.
With imagery, or in abstracts. I have an internal monologue but not everything is a monologue. If I’m working on a project of some kind I’ll usually keep a mental model of the current piece I’m working on in my head. There’s no monologue attached, it’s just a “working copy” of my current task.
Or for example if I’m reaching somewhere I can’t see to plug in a usb port or something I’m visualizing in my head what my hand is doing, but I’m not talking myself through it.
As someone with an inner monologue, how do they think?
I don’t really have an inner monologue unless I very intentionally think in words. Otherwise I just think in thoughts. 🤷♀️
Thoughts are words though?
When you’re thinking about how to throw a basketball to get it through a hoop, do you use words for that?
When you are thinking of the tune to a particular song, is that in words?
I think a lot of people overestimate the role of words in thinking. There’s a lot of non-verbal thought.
I do both of those using auditory words. Can’t imagine any other way and didn’t know anyone else could function so differently.
Aiming a basketball: Ok let’s get this in, a little higher, to the left, ok looks good.
Thinking of music: what’s the lyrics to that song, I think they were…
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Thoughts can be words.
What everyone else here said but also keep in mind it’s not binary.
If you ask me to picture an Apple on a windowsill I can kind of do that. And then if you ask me to make it polka dot, I could kind of do that. In my mind’s eye though it’s like it’s severely myopic. It’s not fuzzy but the details are not there.
When I’m drawing things, the act of me putting the marks on the paper is where the object is formed. I generally don’t have a solid concept in my head that’s coming out on paper. I could definitely do the 2D outline of an apple, But if you want me to perspective skew it there’s no way. I might be able to draw the 2D outline and then slowly modify that to make it look more 3D, But I’ve got to be making changes to something already on paper rather than having something come out that’s just kind of the right direction.
I just think in concepts/abstractions, I don’t know how to explain it, lol.
I definitely don’t think in pictures, like other person said. My mind can’t create pictures out of thin air. That might be more like artists think I guess.
Having a minds eye or not is a different thing from having a inner monologue or not. People can have both, one of it or none.
Lack of an inner eye is called Aphantasia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia
I have a inner monologue but not a glimpse of an inner eye.
I am very very much not an artist, and yet also cannot imagine not being able to conjure up images of whatever.
It is fascinating how the brain works! Even if we barely understand it!
With imagery, or in abstracts. I have an internal monologue but not everything is a monologue. If I’m working on a project of some kind I’ll usually keep a mental model of the current piece I’m working on in my head. There’s no monologue attached, it’s just a “working copy” of my current task.
Or for example if I’m reaching somewhere I can’t see to plug in a usb port or something I’m visualizing in my head what my hand is doing, but I’m not talking myself through it.
There was a thread on r/SamHarris (maybe 2 years ago) where some people without inner monologue answered questions. It was interesting to read.
In pictures, for one example
This is the best example, thank you.