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Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as, person, situation and message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object.

Examples

  1. A person understands the weather if he/she is able to predict and to give an explanation of some of its features.
  2. A psychiatrist understands another person if he knows his anxieties and their causes and can give him useful advice on how to minimise the anxiety.
  3. A person understands a command if he/she knows who gave it, what is expected by the issuer, and whether the command is legitimate.
  4. One understands a reasoning, an argument, or a language if one can consciously reproduce the information content conveyed by the message.

Is understanding definable?

It is difficult to define understanding. If we use the term concept as above, the question then arises as to what is a concept? Is it an abstract thing? Is it a brain pattern or a rule? Whatever definition is proposed, we can still ask how it is that we understand the thing that is featured in the definition: we can never satisfactorily define a concept, still less use it to explain understanding.

It is more convenient to use an operational or behavioural definition, we can say that somebody who reacts appropriately to X understands X. For example, I understand Swahili if I correctly obey commands given in that language. This approach, however, may not provide an adequate definition. A computer can easily be programmed to react appropriately to simple commands. For most people, this would be stretching the notion of understanding to claim that under an operational definition such a computer understands the language.

According to independent Socionics researcher Rostislav Persion, "In the cognitive model presented by MBTI, the process of introverted thinking (Ti) is thought to represent understanding through cause and effect relationships or correlations. One can construct a model of a system by observing correlations between all the relevant properties (eg. The output of a NAND gate relative to its inputs). This allows the person to generate truths about the system and then to apply the model in order to demonstrate his or her understanding. A mechanic for example may randomly, or algorithmically probe the inputs and outputs of a black box in order to understand the internal components through the use of induction. INTP, ISTP, ESTP, and ENTP all use Ti and are usually the best of the 16 types at understanding their environment. These types may enjoy mechanics and digital electronics because of the 1 to 1 correlation between cause and effect relationships in these fields. In the field of engineering, engineers probe or study the inputs and outputs of components in order to understand their functionality. These components are then combined based on their functionality (similar to computer programming) to create a larger, more complex system. This is the reason why engineers attempt to subdivide ideas as deep as possible in order to obtain the lowest level of knowledge. This makes their models more detailed and flexible. It may be useful to know the formulas that govern an ideal gas, but to visualize the gas as being made up of small moving particles, which are in turn made up of even smaller particles, is true understanding. People who are understanding (through the use of Ti) usually value objects and people based on usefulness, as opposed to the people who use extraverted thinking (Te) who view people or things as having a worth."

Another definition

Functional definition related to a perceived information: to be able to reconceptualise, to explain and to use received information ( TOGA Meta-theory).

See also


References & Bibliography

Key texts

Books

Papers

  • Bransford, J.D. and Johnson, M.K. (1972) Contextual prerequisites for understanding: some investigations of comprehension and recall, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour 11: 717-26.

Additional material

Books

Papers

External links

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