ITC1001D / ITC1A01

Understanding thinking styles

(Sternberg, 1997)

Page 1
Thinking Styles

• Developed by Dr. Robert Sternberg in 1988.

• Mental Self-Government into 5 Dimensions, namely

functions, forms, levels, scopes, leanings.

• Organizing an individual ≈ organizing a society

• People need to perform like a government in their own

thinking and working.

• Thinking involves representation and processing of

information in the mind.

Page 2
A Style vs An Ability

• A thinking style is a preferred way of thinking.

• It is not an ability, but rather how we use the abilities we

have.

• Given the abilities, one can arrange to tackle a task to fit

their styles, or vice versa.

• We do not have a style, but rather a profile of styles.

• Understanding styles help understand why some

activities fit them, and other don’t.

Page 3
Theory of Mental Self-government

Dimensions Styles

Functions Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Forms Monarchic, Hierarchic, Oligarchic, Anarchic

Levels Global, Local

Scopes External, Internal

Leanings Liberal, Conservative

Page 4
 Functions of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FUNCTIONS
– People tend to perform these functions in their own thinking and working

• Like to do things their own • Conducive to creativity

way • Like writing essays, rather
Legislative • Like to create, formulate multiple choices
and plan things • Entrepreneurs and start-ups
• Like to make their own rules • Scientists, writers, inventors

Page 5
 Functions of Mental Self-government
Style Characteristics
FUNCTIONS
– People tend to perform these functions in their own thinking and working
• Like to do as told and guided
• Like to follow and enforce
rules and laws, and
Executive directions
• Tolerate bureaucracies
• Prefer problems given or
structured to them
Example
• Like to apply and solve
problems
• Peer group pressure
encourages executive style
• Government officials
• Administrators, teachers
• Applied researchers
Page 6
 Functions of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FUNCTIONS
– People tend to perform these functions in their own thinking and working.

• Like to analyze and evaluate

• Prefer problems to analyze
rules and procedures,
Judicial and evaluate
existing things and ideas
• Judges, critics, system analyst
• Like to judge things

Page 7
 Forms of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FORMS
– People have different ways of approaching the world and its problems.

• Single-minded and driven

• Like to immerse oneself
person
in a single project,
Monarchic • Do one thing at a time
whether art, science,
• Tends not to let anything get in
history, business
the way

Page 8
 Forms of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FORMS
– People have different ways of approaching the world and its problems.

• Enjoy to do a hierarchy of things • Know time management

• Recognize to set priorities • Fit well in schools and
Hierarchic
• Accept complexities and view organizations if priorities
things at different angles match

Page 9
 Forms of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FORMS
– People have different ways of approaching the world and its problems.

• Similar to Hierarchic person, but

• With minimal guidance
has trouble setting priorities
Oligarchic for better effective
• Often motivated by competing
results
goals

Page 10
 Forms of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

FORMS
– People have different ways of approaching the world and its problems.

• Likes to take a random approach • Have troubles in a rigid

to problems; dislike systems, environment
Anarchic
guidelines, and practically all • Great potential for
constraints creative contribution

Page 11
 Levels of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

LEVELS
– People have their ways of dealing with details.

• Likes to deal with big picture, • See the forest rather than
Global
generalities, abstractions the trees

• Likes to deal with details, • See the trees rather than

Local
specifics, concrete examples the forest

Page 12
 Scopes of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

SCOPES
– People have their own way of working with others.

• Likes to work along, focus • Prefers to do individual

Internal
inward, be self-sufficient project or assignment

• Likes to work with others, focus • Prefers to do group

External
outward, be interdependent project

Page 13
 Leanings of Mental Self-government

Style Characteristics Example

LEANINGS
– People have their own tendencies to follow procedures.

• Likes to do things in new ways,

challenge conventions
Liberal
• Likes to go beyond existing rules
and procedures
• Likes to do things in tried and
true ways, follow conventions
Conservative
• Minimize change
• Avoid ambiguous situation
• Like to try new things
• Prefers open-classroom
setting
• Like to follow ways to do
things
• Prefers traditional
classroom setting

Page 14