THE CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY OF THINKING

The analysis of the main trends in the last two decades showed the predominance of modelling and cognitive psychology (conception of information processing, D. Dorner's works, schemes, everyday reasoning), the relationship between thinking and intelligence (particularly the conception of R. J. Sternberg) etc. The Soviet psychology of thinking is characterized by the prevailing criticism of the cybernetic approach to thinking and by the enhancement of the thematical scope (emotional and motivational aspects of thinking, the role of reflexion etc). The authors of the former GDR tend to formalize thinking processes (F. Klix, H, Sydow, W. Krause). Papers presented at the XXII. - XXIV. International Congresses of Psychology and at the 1st European Congress of Psychology in Amsterdam are reviewed as well. Generally, the contemporary Psychology of thinking is characterized by its link-up with cognitive psychology, by emphasis on the ecological validity of research, and the study of the relationships between mental and physical representation of knowledge.