The 4 main types of reasoning (and their characteristics)

A series of ways of reasoning that depend on our degree of psychological maturation.

Reason or the ability to reason is one of the most valued cognitive abilities throughout history, having been considered in ancient times as one of the characteristics that separate us from other animals and being often confronted with emotion (although emotion and reason are actually deeply interrelated).

But although the concept of reason is often taken as universal and unique, it is necessary to take into account that there is no single way or mechanism to achieve reasoning. different types of reasoning depending on how the information is obtained and processed.. It is about some of these different types of reasoning that we are going to talk about in this article.

What is reasoning?

We understand reasoning as the product of a set of complex cognitive skills through which we are able to relate and link different information in a structured way, a linkage that allows us to establish different strategies, arguments and conclusions based on such structuring of information.

Reasoning allows us to elaborate new information and ideas based on a set of rules, something that allows us to establish and form elements such as thoughts, beliefs, theories, abstract ideas, techniques or strategies. It also allows us to find the resolution of the problems or situations we encounter and the search for the most optimal and the search for the most optimal methods.

Likewise, reasoning would not be possible without the existence of different mental faculties such as the capacity of association, attention, sensory perception, memory or the capacity to plan or inhibit our responses both at a cognitive and behavioral level. Thus, although it is and is considered a cognitive capacity, it would not be possible without the existence of many others on which it is based. We are not dealing with a basic capacity but with one of the higher or high-level cognitive capacities.

Main types of reasoning

Although the concept of reasoning may seem simple, the truth is that, as with intelligence, defining it in a clear and delimited way (without mixing it with other concepts) is very complex. The truth is that reasoning itself is difficult to study as a whole, and is often divided into different processes that give rise to different types of reasoning. Among them, the following stand out, the first three being the most recognized and fundamental.

1. Deductive reasoning

One of the main types of reasoning is the so-called deductive reasoning, which, as its name indicates, is the type of cognitive process we use to arrive at a deduction. cognitive process that we use to arrive at a deduction..

This type of thinking is based on the belief in a premise or a universal statement to reach a conclusion for each particular case. Thus, we go from the general to the particular, being able to make conclusions for a particular case based on assumption or deduction from what we consider to be globally true..

Logic is often used for this purpose, and it is common to use syllogisms, inferences and chained propositions to reach a specific conclusion. Deductive thinking can be categorical (a conclusion is drawn from two premises considered valid), proportional (action is taken on the basis of two premises, one of which is necessary for the other to occur) or disjunctive (two opposing premises are confronted in order to draw a conclusion that eliminates one of them).

This is often the type of reasoning followed by stereotypes, which make us think that by being part of a group or profession to which certain characteristics have been attributed, a person will behave in a specific way (whether good or bad).

It is common for mere deduction to trigger judgments, arguments and beliefs that are judgments, arguments and beliefs that do not conform to reality.. For example, we may think that water hydrates, so given that the sea is made of water, sea water will hydrate us (when in fact it would produce dehydration).

2. Inductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning is that thought process in which we start from particular information to reach a general conclusion. It is the inverse process of deduction: we observe one particular case after another in order to determine a more generalized conclusion through experience. It is a less logical type of reasoning. less logical and more probabilistic than the previous one. than the previous one.

Inductive reasoning can be incomplete (i.e. only a series of specific cases are included and not others to establish the conclusions) or complete (including all the particular cases observed).

It tends to be a much more widely used method than it seems when making decisions in our day-to-day life, being generally what we use to predict the future consequences of our actions or what may happen. or what may happen.

It is also often linked to the attribution of causes for the phenomena we perceive. However, as with deduction, it is easy to reach false conclusions, focusing only on what we have seen or experienced. For example, the fact that every time we see a swan it is white can make us think that all swans are white, although there are also black swans.

3. Hypothetical-deductive reasoning

This type of reasoning or thinking is the basis of scientific knowledge, and is one of the most closely one of the closest to reality and to the verification of the premises established on the basis of observation. established on the basis of observation.

It is based on the observation of the reality of a series of particular cases to generate a hypothesis, from which in turn possible consequences or interpretations of what has been observed will be deduced. These, in turn, must be falsifiable and empirically contrasted to prove their veracity..

This type of reasoning is considered to be one of the most complex and adult (Piaget, for example, associates it with the last stage of development and considers it typically adult, although many adults may not possess it).

This does not necessarily mean that they always produce valid results, being a type of reasoning that is also sensitive to biases. An example of this type of reasoning can be found, for example, in the discovery of penicillin and its transformation into an antibiotic.

4. Transductive reasoning

This type of reasoning is based on the combining different pieces of information separated from each other to establish an argument, belief, theory or conclusion. In fact, they tend to link specific or particular information without generating any kind of principle or theory and without seeking verification.

It is considered typical of early childhoodIt is considered typical of early childhood, when we are still unable to establish a reasoning that links causes and effects and we can associate elements that have nothing to do with each other.

An example of this type of reasoning can be found in the type of reflection that children usually do, for example, they may think that it is snowing because they have been good that day.

Other types of reasoning

These are some of the most important types of reasoning, but there are other types depending on how they are classified. For example, we can find logical or non-logical reasoning (depending on whether or not it is used in such a way that the conclusions are coherent and extractable from the premises), valid or invalid reasoning (depending on whether or not the conclusion is correct) or even reasoning linked to certain professions or fields of knowledge, such as medical or clinical.

Bibliographical references:

• Higueras, B. and Muñoz, J.J. (2012). Basic Psychology. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 08. CEDE: Madrid.
• Peirce, C.S. (1988). Man, a sign (Peirce's pragmatism). Crítica, Barcelona: 123-141.
• Polya, G. (1953). Mathematics and plausible reasoning. Ed. Tecnos. Madrid.